Video: Tension as Kenyan man arrested by ICE officers in US, facing deportation
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- A video shared on TikTok has captured ICE officers pulling over a Kenyan man during a traffic stop in the US
- Officers told the man his name appeared on a wanted list linked to an expired visa, prompting the arrest
- He requested to make a phone call, but officers stood firm that he could only do so once they reached the station
A Kenyan man found himself in the hands of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers after a routine traffic stop took an unexpected turn.
The video, posted on TikTok by Mkenya Marekani, shows the man seated behind the wheel of a vehicle as ICE officers pulled him over.
ICE Officers Order Man Out of Vehicle
A passenger in the back seat captured the exchange on camera, documenting the tense moments as they unfolded.
The officers instructed the man to exit the vehicle, informing him that he was being taken into custody.
They told him his name had appeared on a wanted list due to an alleged overstay of his visa, a revelation that visibly unsettled him as he tried to understand what lay ahead.
During the exchange, the man calmly asked whether he could reach out to someone before being taken away.
"Can I request to make one call?" he pleaded with the officers who had surrounded his car on both sides.
Officers Describe Case as Civil Matter
The officers responded that he would be allowed to make a phone call once they arrived at the police station, leaving him with little choice but to comply.
As the situation progressed, the ICE officers sought to clarify the nature of the detention, telling the man that his case was civil rather than criminal.
The distinction appeared intended to separate immigration enforcement action from criminal prosecution, though it offered little immediate comfort given the circumstances.
The man was subsequently removed from the vehicle while the passenger continued recording, capturing a moment that has since resonated strongly with Kenyans living abroad.
Kenyan Trucker Arrested by ICE
The incident comes four months after another Kenyan named Cyrus Thairu was detained in Texas.
Cyrus, who worked as a truck driver, was arrested on March 26, 2026, while hauling goods from Illinois to Texas.
His freedom came to a screeching halt when he was stopped at a checkpoint near the Mexico border and taken into custody.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.