U.S President Donald Trump on Monday, January 20, kicked off his crackdown on illegal immigrants, tasking the military with aiding border security, issuing a broad ban on asylum, and taking steps to restrict citizenship for children born on U.S. soil.
Declaring illegal immigration a national emergency, President Trump ordered the Pentagon to provide support for border wall construction, detention space, and migrant transportation and empowered the secretary of Defense to send troops to the border as needed.
Following the signing of multiple immigration executive orders by the President, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials announced on Friday that the agency arrested 538 illegal immigrants nationwide over 33 hours spanning Tuesday to Wednesday.
ICE also said it issued 373 detainer requests, which ask local jails to hold an individual past their release date while the agency weighs deportation proceedings against them.
Following the recent arrests, Kenyans living in the United States have expressed concerns on social media claiming that some individuals may be betraying their fellow countrymen.
Reports have surfaced suggesting that a federal law enforcement agency has requested tips about people living in the U.S. illegally.
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Kenyans in the US accused of snitching on illegal immigrants
These allegations imply that certain Kenyans are divulging the immigration details of their fellow countrymen to U.S. authorities.
“The Way Kenyans are reporting each other for deportation is unbelievable. I’m not sure what anyone will gain if a fellow Kenyan is taken back home,” said Wairimu Kimani.
The two also alleged that ICE has launched a toll-free number for tips regarding individuals living in the U.S. illegally and is offering financial rewards for information.
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Wairimu further advised Kenyans who might be caught up by the immigration crackdown to relocate to Sanctuary states.
Sanctuary states
Sanctuary states refer to states in the U.S. that have policies or laws in place to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies, such as ICE.
These states typically prioritize protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation and may restrict local law enforcement from questioning individuals about their immigration status or detaining them based solely on their immigration status.
However, an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson told PolitiFact the agency does not offer rewards for civil immigration enforcement, which refers to the deportation or detainment of noncitizens who entered the U.S. without authorization.
ICE does offer a tip form, but it is also to report child exploitation or other crimes unrelated to unauthorized entry to the U.S.
On the tip form, the agency says there is “no absolute guarantee” that tip information will result in monetary payments, but the agency has the discretion and authority to pay for information used to support criminal investigations.
Under U.S. law 8 U.S.C. § 1253, an immigrant who enters the U.S. without authorization can face a civil penalty, which typically includes deportation, fines or being barred from reentry to the country.
In some cases, such as reentering the U.S. after having a deportation order, entering without authorization can lead to a criminal penalty, according to the American Immigration Council, an immigrant-rights advocacy group.
Of the estimated 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally or with temporary status in 2022, about 44% lived in states with “sanctuary” laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Trump issued a raft of executive orders after taking office on Monday that aim to clamp down on illegal immigration.
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