After 16 years of living, studying, and working in the United States, Kenyan man Samuel Kangethe has left the country voluntarily.
Speaking to NPR, he said that he faced detention and deportation over a long-running immigration dispute.
Kangethe, an accountant and father of three, departed from Detroit Metro Airport, ending a chapter of his life that began when he arrived on a student visa.
He leaves behind his wife, Latavia, and their children, Dwight, 13, Hailey, 11, and Ella, 5.
This was the safest option I had on the table. But it’s also the decision that hurts me the most. Deportation would have been the worst outcome. I felt it was better to leave on my own.
Also Read: UK to Deport Migrants Working Illegally as Food Delivery Riders
How the Troubles of the Kenya Began
Kangethe’s immigration troubles date back to 2014, when US immigration authorities accused him of entering a fraudulent marriage.
He has no criminal record and insisted that he submitted evidence to contest the claim.
However, his case stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic, was removed from the court docket, and was later reassigned.
A new hearing had been set for January 2026, leaving him in legal limbo without a ruling from an immigration judge.
According to him, the uncertainty meant he could be picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at any time. Therefore, to avoid detention in another state or even removal under harsher terms, Kangethe chose to self-deport.
Also Read: Canada to Deport Kenyan Pastor and Children Despite Threats from Local Church Leader
Last Moments in the US
Days before his departure, Kangethe’s wife organized a surprise farewell party at their Lansing home. So many of his friends joined, leaving confetti scattered across the backyard.
“You don’t think of this stuff until something happens to you, seeing who shows up for you and how far you’ve touched people’s lives,” Kangethe said.
At the airport, although his wife and children did not come, his close friends helped him carry his bags and say goodbye. He said that his youngest daughter, Ella, begged him not to leave.
With only one income now, friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his family’s mortgage, groceries, and school expenses.
“You deport this guy, and you think it’s just one person who left. But what did he leave behind? Now you’re taking my responsibilities too.”
What Next for Samuel Kangethe
Kangethe may face a 10-year ban before being allowed to return to the US.
His sister, Elizabeth, flew from Kenya to accompany him on the journey home.
“It was heartbreaking to watch the kids say goodbye. I only pray he can adjust to life back home after nearly two decades,” she said.
One chapter of his life closed, and another began as he walked through Gate A60 for his final boarding call, .
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