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Kenyans Arrested in USA Crackdown: The Way Out

A Statement of the Kenyan Community Abroad



Issued November 4, 2001



The Kenyan Community Abroad (KCA) is distressed by news of arrest of Kenyans
in the USA. Reports indicate that the Kenyans were arrested in an attempt to
obtain Social Security Numbers (SSNs). It has also been suggested that their
visa status may have expired.



KCA is working to establish the exact circumstances under which the Kenyans
were arrested and the associated offences they are charged with. These
findings will be communicated as they become clear.



Meanwhile, via separate cover letter, we are appealing to the US authorities
to release the arrested Kenyans; their "crimes" pale in comparison with the
evil perpetuated by the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City and
Washington, DC. Our country continues to be a faithful partner in the
coalition against terrorism and fellow Kenyans in the USA remain law abiding
as ever. Release of the Kenyans will be a sign of good will and a prudent
political gesture for the people of Kenya world over.



Kenyans in the country also need to appreciate a number of facts:



-          There are many people of different nationalities resident in the
US whose status may have expired. Only recently, the US government offered a
moratorium for such illegal aliens to regularize their stay to meet legal
requirements.



-          People from different nationalities coming to America apply and
obtain SSNs as a matter of routine; it is not criminal to do so. Obtaining
SSNs in the past was a straightforward issue. This, however, changed in the
mid-1990s.



-          The majority of Kenyans living abroad, including the USA, meet
legal requirements for staying in their countries of residence. They remain
law-abiding and work hard in their jobs and school. Other than tarnishing
the names of Kenyans Abroad, the Kenyan Government should borrow a leaf from
the Mexican Government and work with the Bush Administration to have those
with illegal status given an Amnesty.  In the meantime, our Government and
the Kenyan Embassy in Washington should work with INS to have those in
custody released.



Further, KCA appeals to:



-          The Kenyan government to be more proactive in safeguarding the
welfare of its citizens, be they at home or abroad. Our country's
participation in the coalition against terrorism underlines the importance
of our country's commitment to the war against terrorism.  This gesture of
goodwill can be reciprocated by appealing to the USA authorities to release
the arrested Kenyans. Otherwise we all know that the crackdown is intended
to track down potential terrorists. The arrested Kenyans are not terrorists.



-          Kenyans in the abroad, in general, and USA, in particular, to
ensure their status is legal. For those with expired immigration status, let
them seek legal help from immigration lawyers to help regularize their
immigration status. We must respect the laws of the lands that have given us
a  "home". We are willing to point to help for needy cases.



-          Kenyans living abroad to register with Kenyan embassies and
consulates in their countries of residence. This will be useful for embassy
officials in making informed responses in cases of emergencies.



Signed



Matunda Nyanchama

President of the Kenyan Community Abroad

president@kenyansabroad.org

===============================================================

The Kenyan Community Abroad, P. O. Box 5635, Washington, D.C. 20016-5635,
USA

E-mail: info@kenyansabroard.org. Phone: (301) 301 622-0423; Fax: (301)
622-0423;

http://www.kenyansabroad.org; mailing list:
www.egroups.com/subscribe/kca_main (moderated);
www.egroups.com/subscribe/kca-l (unmoderated)