Kenyans in US Worried as Trump Administration Plans Deportation of Green Card Holders

Hundreds of Kenyans living in the United States are worried after the Donald Trump administration started a fresh review of older Green Card holders.

The review is being done by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). According to reports from American media, some people could face deportation if problems are found in their records.

By early May 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had already marked at least 50 Green Card holders for deportation. A special team was formed to look into old immigration cases and residency approvals.

Reports show that close to 2,900 cases had been reviewed or were still under review by May 7. Around 80 per cent of the people checked were cleared, and no action was taken against them. However, more than 500 cases are still being investigated.

The review comes at a time when millions of immigration applications are still pending in the United States. The Trump administration says it wants to re-check some Green Cards issued during former President Joe Biden’s administration to remove people who may not qualify to stay in the country.

A USCIS spokesperson, Zach Kahler, said the process is targeting people who were previously arrested or convicted of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, drunk driving and drug-related offences.

He also said some individuals are suspected of giving false information during their Green Card applications.

However, immigration experts in the U.S. have criticised the exercise, saying Green Card applicants already go through strict background checks before approval. They argue that the small number of suspicious cases found shows the original screening process was strong.

The operation is being managed by a new department called the Tactical Operations Division, led by Daniel Andrade. The division has different units handling Green Card reviews, citizenship investigations and refugee background checks.

Under U.S. immigration law, a person can lose their Green Card and be deported if they are convicted of serious crimes or if they obtained residency through fraud. In most cases, they are allowed to appear before an immigration judge.

For Kenyans living in America, the matter is serious because thousands receive Green Cards every year. In 2022 alone, more than 5,000 Kenyans were granted permanent residency in the U.S.

Many Kenyans move to America through the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery programme, which offers up to 55,000 visas every year. Applicants must complete interviews and background checks at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi before they are allowed to relocate to the United States.

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