After 22 Years in the US, Kenyan National Arrested by Immigration Officials, Set for Deportation

Jackson Kabut Gichema, a Kenyan citizen, was taken into US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on 24 March after completing a prison sentence for a rape conviction in Baltimore County.

He now faces deportation to Kenya. Gichema first entered the United States legally in 2003 on a visitor’s visa. He subsequently overstayed and remained in the country without legal status for more than two decades. During that time, he became involved in multiple legal proceedings, culminating in his 2011 appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, which upheld his conviction.

A final removal order was issued following the conclusion of his criminal case.
Before his transfer to ICE, Gichema served his sentence within the Maryland Department of Corrections, most recently at a facility in Hagerstown. His move to immigration custody marks a transition from criminal incarceration to enforcement of federal immigration law.

Officials have confirmed that he will remain detained while arrangements for his deportation are made, though no specific removal date has been announced.
Authorities in Maryland report that Gichema’s case is part of a wider enforcement effort targeting non-citizens with serious criminal convictions. Hundreds of similar arrests have been made since the start of 2026, reflecting a continued focus on public safety.

Gichema’s situation coincides with that of another Kenyan national, Kevin Ntabo, currently held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center following his arrest upon returning from Kenya, where he had attended his father’s funeral. Ntabo, a father of four, is also facing deportation proceedings.