Monday, June 29, 2026
- Thousands of Kenyans in the United States are staring at possible deportation
after the Supreme Court delivered a major victory to President Donald Trump, stripping protections
for immigrants under Temporary
Protected Status (TPS).
The ruling has rattled foreign nationals who have lived and
worked in the U.S for years under TPS, a program designed to shield those
fleeing conflict, disaster or instability back home.
Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, reinforced the administration’s position in a
CNN interview, declaring migrants must either pursue permanent residency or
accept government‑assisted return.
“Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath
a permanent status or we’ll help you get back to your country,” Mullin said.
He added that those who choose to leave will receive a plane
ticket and about KSh271,000 (USD 2,100) to help resettle.
Mullin argued TPS was never intended to be permanent,
pointing to the program’s name as justification.
The Supreme Court’s decision now opens the door for mass
deportations, affecting hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including Kenyans
who have lived in the U.S for over a decade.
Kenya’s diaspora community, estimated at between 157,000 and
170,000 people, is particularly worried.
Data shows 45 Kenyans currently appear on the Department of
Homeland Security’s “Worst of the Worst” list, while 1,282 others remain on the
non‑detained docket individuals with final removal orders but not in custody.
These Kenyans remain vulnerable to enforcement action as
deportation activity intensifies.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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