Stricter US Immigration Rules Force Kenyan Man to Leave After 16 Years

Amidst increasingly restrictive immigration policies in the United States, one Kenyan father has made the agonising decision to return to his home country, prioritising the welfare of his family over his own aspirations. 

Samuel Kangethe, who spent sixteen years building a life in America, left earlier this year, citing an unrelenting legal battle and mounting fears of deportation under stricter immigration enforcement. Arriving in 2009 on a student visa, he pursued his education and career, eventually establishing a family. 

However, his immigration status remained unresolved, with authorities repeatedly questioning the validity of his initial marriage. This protracted legal battle, coupled with the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, left Kangethe in a state of perpetual uncertainty. 

His anxieties were compounded by the introduction of a voluntary deportation initiative, wherein the Department of Homeland Security offers financial incentives to undocumented immigrants who willingly depart the country. While framed as a humane alternative to forced removals, the scheme raises ethical questions about its potential to coerce individuals into leaving their families and communities. 

Kangethe's decision to return to Kenya was driven by a deep sense of paternal responsibility. Although now divorced from his first spouse and remarried to an American citizen with whom he has three children, his commitment to his family's wellbeing remains unwavering. He articulates his fears that his legal vulnerability could prevent him from fully participating in his children's lives. 

"How can a father protect his family and provide for his family when he himself is in hiding?" he asked.