Kenyan Man Chooses Self-Deportation, Leaving Wife and Children in Michigan

A Kenyan-born accountant who lived in Michigan for more than a decade has left the United States voluntarily after years of unresolved immigration proceedings, separating him from his wife and three young children.

Sam Kangethe, 39, decided to return to Kenya earlier this year after prolonged legal delays left him unable to renew his residency and at risk of detention. He had lived in the US since 2009, earning advanced degrees, working as a state accountant, and raising a family in Lansing. Despite these roots, uncertainty over his immigration status forced him to choose between remaining in legal limbo or leaving on his own terms.

“I decided I would rather take myself out than arrive at an airport in shackles,” Kangethe said from Nairobi, where he is now rebuilding his life. “I wanted to come home with my dignity.”

His departure has deeply affected his family. His wife, Latavia, is now raising their children, 13-year-old Dwight, 12-year-old Hailey, and five-year-old Ella, while managing financial strain and emotional upheaval. The youngest child has struggled with anxiety since her father’s absence, while the older children are receiving therapy to help them cope. 

Kangethe stays in contact through video calls, offering brief moments of connection that cannot replace being together. The family’s finances remain under pressure. Much of their savings went to legal fees during Kangethe’s immigration battle, and relatives have launched a crowdfunding campaign to help with essential costs. 

Before leaving, he tried to prepare his family by settling debts, repairing the home, and ensuring they were ready for winter, but the emotional toll has been heavy.

In Nairobi, Kangethe is seeking work in accounting and preparing for a virtual immigration hearing scheduled for January. 

He describes life in Kenya as freer but says his heart remains with his family in Michigan. His hope is to reunite with them, even temporarily, before his youngest child grows up.

“If he can’t come back, I just hope our story helps others,” Latavia said. “No family should have to choose between safety and staying together.”