In a move that sent shockwaves across immigrant communities, President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigrants, including Kenyans living in the U.S. without documentation.
Under his new directive, any undocumented immigrant who refuses to self-deport will face five brutal penalties beyond automatic deportation.
Trump made the bold declaration as he signed an Executive Order creating the nation’s first self-deportation program.
The program urges illegal immigrants to voluntarily register and leave the country before U.S. authorities catch them. But for those who refuse, the punishment will be swift and severe.
Trump Self-Deport Program Unveiled With Tough Measures
“If they don’t leave on their own, they will pay a very high price,” Trump warned during the announcement. According to the new order, immigrants who fail to self-deport will be subject to five penalties: wage garnishment, long prison sentences, massive financial fines, property seizure, and unpredictable deportation.
Under wage garnishment, the government will withhold an immigrant’s entire paycheck. “They will get zero dollars,” Trump stated. This means undocumented workers will no longer receive any income if they choose to remain illegally.
Trump also ordered the imposition of heavy fines on those refusing to leave. These fines could amount to thousands of dollars, piling up monthly until the individual departs or is deported.
Perhaps the harshest penalty is the seizure of all property. Any assets owned by undocumented immigrants, including homes, vehicles, and businesses, will be confiscated by the federal government. “If they won’t leave, they won’t keep anything,” Trump declared.
Additionally, illegal immigrants who refuse to self-deport could face indefinite detention in federal facilities. Trump explained that those detained will not know when or where they will be deported.
“We will deport them at a time, place, and manner we decide,” he said. The government also does not guarantee that deportees will be returned to their country of origin.
Harsh Consequences Await Illegal Immigrants
The penalties in Trump’s self-deport program are unprecedented. Immigrants who remain in the U.S. illegally will have their wages taken, their assets seized, and their freedom stripped. For many, this policy signals a new era of fear and uncertainty.
“If they think they can stay and hide, they are wrong,” Trump emphasized. “We will find them, and we will take everything they have.”
Immigration advocates have already condemned the policy as cruel and extreme. “This is an attack on human rights,” one immigration lawyer said. “Confiscating property and indefinite detention? This goes beyond enforcement.”
But Trump defended the move as necessary to protect American jobs and security. He claimed that once the country finishes deporting undocumented immigrants, the U.S. will save trillions of dollars.
Incentives for Self-Deportation Offered
Interestingly, Trump’s program also offers incentives to those who voluntarily self-deport. The Executive Order provides free flights out of the U.S. for any undocumented immigrant who registers for self-deportation through the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home application, launched in March.
Trump said self-deporting immigrants may even receive a “self-deport bonus” as encouragement. “If they leave willingly, we will help them,” he promised. Trump added that self-deporters could be eligible for legal reentry into the U.S. after some time.
“This is the best deal they’re going to get,” Trump said. “They leave now on their terms, or later on ours.”
Kenyans Among Those Affected by Trump Self-Deport Policy
For Kenyans living in the U.S. without legal status, the new order spells serious trouble. Many fear losing their jobs, homes, and livelihoods if they stay. Community leaders are already advising undocumented Kenyans to consider self-deportation to avoid harsher consequences.
“We are urging our people to weigh their options carefully,” said a Kenyan diaspora spokesperson. “The risks of staying under Trump’s new policy are simply too high.”
Trump’s order has already sparked protests in major cities. Immigrant rights groups are planning legal challenges, calling the penalties unconstitutional and inhumane.
But the White House remains firm. “This is about law and order,” Trump said. “Illegal means illegal.”
As the self-deportation program takes effect, thousands of undocumented immigrants now face a tough choice: leave voluntarily with limited support, or risk losing everything under Trump’s harsh penalties.
