The United States government has expanded its list of Kenyan nationals classified as the “worst of the worst” illegal immigrants, increasing the number from 15 to 28 individuals within a span of about two months.
The move comes amid a renewed crackdown on illegal immigration under President Donald Trump’s administration, targeting undocumented foreigners convicted of serious crimes and deemed a threat to public safety.
Over the past 50 days, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added 13 more Kenyans to the database, which tracks undocumented immigrants with criminal records across all 50 states.
What ‘Worst of the Worst’ Means
The term “worst of the worst” is used by U.S. security agencies to describe illegal immigrants with serious criminal convictions. The DHS database, launched in December 2025, lists individuals who have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted of grave offences.
According to Homeland Security, the platform was introduced to increase transparency in immigration enforcement, particularly ahead of the World Cup tournament set to begin in the United States in July 2026.
Crimes Linked to the Kenyan Nationals
The additional Kenyan nationals included in the expanded list have been convicted of a wide range of serious crimes, including:
- Drug trafficking
- Armed robbery
- Homicide
- Assault
- Child molestation and cruelty toward a child
Other offences listed include aggravated assault with a weapon, terror-related threats, money laundering, cheque forgery, fraud, kidnapping of a minor, domestic violence, driving under the influence, receiving stolen property, and violation of court orders.
DHS Reports Over 670,000 Deportations
In a statement released on January 20, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security said it has removed more than 670,000 illegal immigrants from the United States since the start of the crackdown.
“On President Trump’s first day in office, he unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including pedophiles, murderers, gang members, terrorists, and rapists,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
She added that law enforcement agencies had recorded a “record-breaking first year”, citing over 670,000 removals and nearly two million self-deportations.
US Increases Payout for Voluntary Self-Deportation
To further accelerate the removal of undocumented immigrants, the Trump administration has rolled out a self-deportation initiative through a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mobile application.
On Monday, January 19, DHS announced that it had increased the self-deportation payout from Ksh129,000 to Ksh336,000 for illegal immigrants who voluntarily agree to leave the United States.
According to the department, eligible individuals who sign up through the CBP app will also receive a free flight to their home countries, in addition to the cash incentive.
The policy is part of broader efforts by the U.S. government to intensify immigration enforcement while encouraging undocumented immigrants to leave voluntarily.
