The United States has announced a halt to all asylum decisions until enhanced security procedures, including thorough vetting and screening, are fully implemented.
The developments followed shortly after President Donald Trump reversed all executive orders signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, raising questions about the status of decisions affecting Kenya, including its designation as a Major Non-NATO ally.
Meanwhile, USCIS confirmed the development in a statement by Director Joseph Edlow on Saturday, citing national security concerns.
“USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The safety of the American people always comes first,” the statement read.
By 2023, the Kenyan-born population in the United States had reached roughly 164,642, reflecting steady migration over recent years. Many, according to the data, are legally employed across various sectors, while a subset have sought asylum, with over 7,500 applications reported as of 2022.
Some Kenyans in the U.S. are still under immigration watch. By November 2024, around 1,282 Kenyan nationals were facing deportation, with the community including both legal residents and those at risk of being removed.
At the same time, Trump also moved to annul several executive orders and policies enacted under Biden.
“I am hereby cancelling all Executive Orders and anything else that was not directly signed by Crooked Joe Biden, because the people who operated the Autopen did so unlawfully. Joe Biden was not involved in the Autopen process, and if he says he was, he will be brought up on charges of perjury,” Trump stated.
“Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92 per cent of them, is hereby terminated and of no further force or effect. The Autopen is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the President of the United States,” he added.
In June last year, a month after President William Ruto visited the U.S., Biden designated Kenya as a Major Non-NATO ally, signalling deeper bilateral cooperation.
The U.S. President issued a memorandum authorising the Secretary of State to publish the determination in the Federal Register.
“By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby designate Kenya as a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States for the purposes of the Act and the Arms Export Control Act,” the memorandum read.
The designation was set to strengthen Kenya’s military profile on the continent, making it the first sub-Saharan nation to achieve such status. Benefits included access to advanced U.S. artillery and closer security cooperation.
However, the arrival of the Trump administration stalled the plan, as it initiated a radical review of U.S. foreign policy and bilateral relations, putting Kenya’s elevated status and other agreements under review.
The developments leave Kenyans in the U.S., particularly asylum seekers and those awaiting legal status, in uncertainty, while raising questions about the future of Kenya-U.S. cooperation in various areas, among them security, education, health, agriculture, and trade.
