The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has denied claims that it is offering $750 (Sh96,900) to individuals who report illegal immigrants for deportation. In a statement, ICE clarified that it does not provide financial rewards for tips related to civil immigration enforcement. The agency responded to rumors circulating in both social media and communities, particularly within the Kenyan diaspora, which suggested that ICE was incentivizing reports of undocumented individuals.
“For the record, contrary to rumours, ICE is not giving a $750 reward for tips in support of civil immigration enforcement objectives,” the agency said. ICE further emphasized that its operations often target known criminals who pose a threat to public safety or national security, not simply any undocumented immigrants. The statement clarified that such arrests are part of planned enforcement actions against criminal aliens.
The denouncement of the reward claims comes as ICE’s enforcement activities intensify, with Sunday marking the highest number of arrests in recent weeks 956 individuals were apprehended, resulting in at least 554 detentions. These actions are part of ICE’s broader aim to address the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S., focusing not only on those with criminal convictions but on a wide range of undocumented individuals.
Rumors of a reward system for reporting undocumented individuals have spread widely, leading to social media backlash and cautionary messages from prominent members of the Kenyan diaspora. Arnold Malcom, a popular TikTok personality based in the U.S., voiced his concerns on the matter, urging fellow Kenyans to avoid betraying their peers in exchange for monetary gain. He warned those living illegally in the U.S. to “cheza chini” (stay low) and to avoid disclosing their immigration status to others.
Malcom also spoke out against the alleged practice of reporting fellow Kenyans to authorities, recounting how two individuals were detained after their peers informed ICE of their illegal status. Another social media figure, The Kenyan American Home on Instagram, shared a similar account, citing an officer in Texas who reported receiving tips about Kenyan nationals, including information about individuals allegedly involved in fraudulent marriages.
The increased arrests and deportations stem from a broader push for stricter immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s executive orders, which were reinforced upon his second-term inauguration. While the claims about financial rewards remain unfounded, the heightened fear and uncertainty surrounding ICE’s activities continue to spark heated discussions within immigrant communities across the U.S.
