Kenyan in US facing deportation after rape conviction

Jackson Kabut Gichema, 48, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Baltimore County, Maryland, and is being processed to be deported back to Kenya.

In a statement shared on X, US immigration officials report said Gichema arrived in the US from Kenya some 23 years ago on a visitor's visa but he did not leave when his authorised stay expired.

"ICE Baltimore arrested Jackson Kabut Gichema, a criminal illegal alien from Kenya, convicted of rape in Baltimore County," ICE stated on X, Tuesday March 24.

Authorities in the State of Maryland, where Gichema was arrested and detained, added, "Gichema entered the US on a visitor's visa in 2003, but failed to depart after his stay. He has a final order of removal and will remain in ICE custody."

Court records indicate that Gichema appealed his case to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in 2011, but the appeal did not succeed in overturning his conviction.

He had been incarcerated in Maryland Department of Corrections facilities, most recently at the Hagerstown site, before his transfer to immigration detention.

ICE characterised the arrest as part of ongoing efforts to remove non-citizens with serious criminal convictions.

The agency has reported several similar cases in Maryland recently, including individuals convicted of second-degree rape.

Local law enforcement in the State managed the initial rape investigation and prosecution. Details regarding the victim and the specific circumstances of the offence were not disclosed in the ICE announcement.

Gichema's journey to the United States began about 23 years ago when he is said to have landed in the country on a visitor's visa.

After his visa expired, he continued to stay in America without legal immigration status.

Immigration authorities eventually issued a final removal order, but just like many others like him, enforcement for his removal was not effected.

With President Trump making illegal immigration as his key political agenda, immigration officials have swung into action, indiscriminately detaining everyone, sometimes those with legal status, in their efforts to effect the president's policy.

"These operations target public safety threats, including those convicted of violent sex crimes," an ICE spokesperson stated online.

The case of Gichema is part of a broader initiative by ICE to prioritise criminal offenders.

This development fits a pattern seen in other recent Maryland cases; In the past year, ICE Baltimore has apprehended individuals from countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Honduras after rape convictions in counties such as Harford, Charles, Howard, and Prince George’s.

In a number of cases, the local jails released the men even after receiving immigration detainers, which attracted criticism from the federal government for the lack of cooperation.

Maryland’s political environment has been a challenge for the federal government. It has a number of sanctuary policies, and the debate over a bill that could limit local-federal cooperation on immigration issues is still ongoing.

Still, in Gichema’s case, the transfer from state custody to ICE has happened without any reported friction. 

ICE has confirmed that Gichema has a final order for removal and is currently in immigration detention awaiting deportation.

Authorities state Gichema will remain in ICE custody until his removal from the country is arranged.

Still, ICE is quick to point out that it is focusing only on deporting those with a criminal history.

The agency has sought to reassure the public that they have deported hundreds of criminals this year, trying to prevent them from committing crimes again in the US.