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 at least 182 undocumented Kenyans living in the United States have been arrested while applying for citizenship to avoid deportation and become eligible for work permits.
The report, released under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, highlighted the plight of those with unlawful presence in the US after being brought in as children.
According to the report, DACA is an immigration program that allows those with unlawful presence in the US after being brought in as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action.
Of the 118,371 foreigners arrested globally, 464 were of unknown descent. Mexico recorded the highest number of illegal immigrants arrested at 91,272, while Mali, New Zealand, and Taiwan had the least number at 21.
Kenya has the second-highest number among African countries behind Nigeria, with 209 incarcerated persons.
USCIS stated, "The release of this report reflects the agency's ongoing focus on transparency. The report provides updated information on known arrests and apprehensions of DACA requestors. The data may include arrests that did not result in convictions or where the charges were dropped or otherwise dismissed."
Notably, DACA was enacted under President Barack Obama's administration in 2012, but current President Donald Trump has threatened to end the program.
