A late-night social media post by former U.S. President Donald Trump has sent shockwaves through immigrant communities worldwide, including thousands of Kenyan families. In the Thanksgiving message, Trump declared his intent to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries,” a move he linked to a recent fatal shooting of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C.

For the more than 170,000 Kenyans legally living and working in the United States, this announcement injects a profound and immediate uncertainty into their futures. The policy, though lacking specific details, threatens not only future immigration but also the status of those already in the U.S., jeopardizing family connections and the vital flow of remittances that support countless households back home.

What the Policy Proposes

Trump's declaration was broad and severe. He called for ending federal benefits to non-citizens, deporting anyone considered a “public charge,” and even revoking citizenship from naturalized migrants deemed “incompatible with Western civilization.” A person can be designated a "public charge" if they are deemed likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.

While the term “Third World” was not officially defined, the administration has taken immediate, concrete steps that reveal its focus:

• Afghan Immigration Halted: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has indefinitely suspended processing all immigration requests from Afghan nationals.
• Green Card Reviews: USCIS will conduct a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination” of green cards for all individuals from 19 “countries of concern.”
• 'Countries of Concern' List: This list includes several African nations such as Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, and Chad, raising fears that Kenya and other neighbours could be targeted under the ambiguous “Third World” label.

The Kenyan Connection: Families and Finances at Risk

The United States is the single largest source of remittances to Kenya, a financial lifeline that amounted to $2.63 billion (approx. KES 339 billion) in 2024 alone. These funds are critical, often paying for school fees, medical bills, and daily sustenance for families across the country. Projections for 2025 suggest total remittances could exceed $5 billion (approx. KES 650 billion), underscoring their importance to the national economy.

The policy could disrupt this flow and shatter the dreams of many. Data from 2022 shows that over 5,000 Kenyans became legal permanent residents in the U.S., and another 6,090 became naturalized citizens. The ambiguity of the new rules now places a cloud over every visa application, green card status, and family reunification plan.

Analysts note that the lack of a clear legal framework for the proposed pause creates administrative chaos and raises serious concerns about fairness. Without a formal list of affected countries, neither immigrants nor the agencies that process them can know who is definitively affected. This leaves the future for many Kenyans, both in the diaspora and at home, hanging in the balance, dependent on a policy yet to be fully defined.