Federal immigration officers have taken a Kenyan man into custody after his conviction for rape in Baltimore County, moving him closer to deportation following more than two decades in the United States.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the arrest of Jackson Kabut Gichema on Tuesday, March 24. Gichema, also known as Jackson H. Gichema, was born in 1978 and entered the country legally on a visitor visa in 2003, but overstayed his authorized period. He now faces removal under a final order of deportation and remains in ICE custody.
According to the ICE Baltimore field office, Gichema was convicted of rape in Baltimore County. Court records show he appealed the case to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in 2011.
He had been serving time in Maryland Department of Corrections facilities, most recently at the Hagerstown site, before the transfer to immigration detention.
ICE described the arrest as part of current efforts to remove noncitizens with serious criminal convictions.
The agency has reported multiple similar cases in Maryland in recent months, including other individuals convicted of second-degree rape.
How the Kenyan Man Entered the U.S.
Gichema’s path to the United States began more than 22 years ago. After his visa expired, he remained in the country without legal status.
Authorities eventually issued a final removal order, but enforcement actions appear to have increased in the current year.
The case comes amid a wider push by ICE to focus on criminal offenders. In Maryland alone, the agency has handled hundreds of arrests involving people with criminal records since the start of 2026.
Officials say these operations target public safety threats, including those convicted of violent sex crimes.
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Local law enforcement in Baltimore County handled the first rape investigation and prosecution. Details of the victim and exact circumstances of the offense were not released in the ICE announcement, consistent with standard practice in such cases.
Gichema’s arrest drew quick attention online after ICE posted about it on social media. Americans were more concerned by the long timeline: a man who arrived as a visitor in his mid-20s, now in his late 40s, facing removal after a serious conviction.
Immigration records confirm he fought deportation through the appeals process years ago. Despite that, the final order stands, and ICE says he will not be released back into the community.
This development fits a pattern seen in other recent Maryland cases. In the past year, ICE Baltimore has apprehended individuals from countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Honduras after rape convictions in counties such as Harford, Charles, Howard, and Prince George’s.
In a number of cases, the local jails released the men even after receiving immigration detainers, which attracted criticism from the federal government for the lack of cooperation.
Also Read: US Deports the Son of a Kenyan-American Soldier to Jamaica
Maryland’s political environment has been a challenge for the federal government. It has a number of sanctuary policies, and the debate over a bill that could limit local-federal cooperation on immigration issues is still ongoing.
Still, in Gichema’s case, the transfer from state custody to ICE has happened without any reported friction.
Gichema is currently being held in federal immigration custody, but a flight back to Kenya will signal the end of a long stay for the Kenyan in the US.
No deadline has been set for Gichema’s deportation, officials say, as they process the case and address any potential legal obstacles.
Still, ICE is quick to point out that it is focusing only on deporting those with a criminal history. The agency has sought to reassure the public that they have deported hundreds of criminals this year, trying to prevent them from committing crimes again in the US.
