This archive report was first published on 19 November 2019.
Published on November 19, 2019, a report by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) revealed that thousands of immigrants, including 182 undocumented Kenyans, were arrested while applying for legal status in the US.
The immigrants, who were mostly from Mexico, had applied to be included in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, which allows immigrants brought in as children in the US to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred deportation.
According to the USCIS report, a total of 118,371 foreigners were arrested, with Mexico recording the highest number of illegal immigrants arrested at 91,272. Africa had 1,100 DACA applicants arrested, with Kenya having the second-highest number among African countries behind Nigeria with 209 incarcerated persons.
USCIS stated that the release of the report reflects the agency's ongoing focus on transparency, providing updated information on known arrests and apprehensions of DACA requestors.
The DACA program was enacted under President Barack Obama's administration in 2012 but has been threatened by his successor, Donald Trump.
Applicants must not have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more 'non-significant' misdemeanors not arising from the same act, and must not pose a threat to national security or public safety.
