Mkenya Marekani, alias, Gerriey Wainaina, a Kenyan based in the US has shared insights into how Trump’s recent immigration policies could impact Kenyans living in the United States and those aspiring to relocate there. Mkenya Marekani explains that there is a lot of misinformation surrounding deportation in the US. In light of recent developments surrounding immigration policies in the United States, TUKO.co.ke spoke with Gerriey Wainaina, who is a respected figure in the Kenyan diaspora community, often shedding light on critical issues affecting immigrants on social media. Are Kenyans being deported? Addressing widespread fears of deportation, Wainaina emphasised that much of the panic among Kenyans stems from misinformation. While Trump’s administration has intensified its immigration enforcement efforts, it has emerged that within the Kenyan community in the US, misinformation is widespread, including claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is paying people to snitch on others.
“Watu wanauziana uoga. Mimi sijaona mtu yeyote amekuwa deported personally also coz I just got back. Kama hio story ati cops are stopping people on the roads and asking them for IDs, hio ni kuuziwa uoga, mimi sijaona. Pia this country has a constitution,” he said. He explained that such fears are cyclical, surfacing with every new administration. “Every election cycle, be it Democrats or Republicans, they try to change the system to fit their ideologies. Like now, Trump is trying to make it be the way the Democrats want it, as opposed to what Republicans under Trump in power were doing before,” he explained. What will be the effect of mass deportation?
Wainaina expressed concern over the potential economic consequences of mass deportations, particularly within industries heavily reliant on immigrant labour. “Mass deportation will have a major effect. Most of the hard labour jobs, like working on farms, native Americans tend to avoid them. If people get deported, food will start rotting in the farmlands, and it might lead to a food shortage,” he said. How Trump’s policies on birthright will be affected? One of the most contentious elements of Trump’s policies is the move to end birthright citizenship. “Unlike before, a child born in the US to parents who are illegal immigrants is not eligible for citizenship,” he said. He explained that the executive order Trump signed on his first day in office has disrupted strategies used by some immigrants in the past. “Ni kama vile some people were inducing pregnancies when Trump emerged as President for their kids to acquire citizenship before Trump ascends into power. Going forward you must have one parent as a legal citizen if not then they are not eligible,” he added.
However, as of this publication, this policy has been blocked by federal courts and is not being enforced. What can avenues Kenyans can use to move to the US going forward? Many Kenyans see the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery as a ticket to the American dream Wanina explained that Trump aims to change the system to award Green Card visas based on merit. “Trump has hinted at introducing a merit-based programme to allow people to come to the US based on merit, unlike before,” he stated. He also highlighted the alternative pathways Kenyans can explore to relocate to the US. “If you’re aspiring to move, you can consider options like asylum, the DV Lottery, student visas, or work visas,” he advised. What should an illegal immigrant in the US do? For Kenyans already in the US and out of status, Wainaina explained that all is not lost and they can still acquire citizenship. R“If you’re out of status, you can file for asylum, get married to a US citizen, or try to get a work visa if you have an employer willing to sponsor you,” he explained. Watch the video below of Wainaina interviewing the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Roseline Njogu about diaspora issues.
by DanVictor Munene
