U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is targeting at least  1,445,549 noncitizens from 187 countries, including 1,282 Kenyans, for deportation.

African countries on the deportation list are Tanzania (301), Uganda (393), Somalia (4,090), South Sudan (136), Ethiopia (1,713) and Rwanda (338).

Others include Burundi (462), Congo (795), Djibouti (29), Nigeria (3,690), Niger (642), Zimbabwe (545) and Zambia (174).

 The operation, which ICE described as part of its routine enforcement actions, seeks to remove individuals residing in the United States without legal authorisation.

According to ICE, the targeted individuals have violated immigration laws or committed other offences that warrant deportation.

 “Each year, ICE carries out targeted enforcement against noncitizens who fail to comply with legal requirements or court orders,” said ICE in a statement.

“This includes individuals from diverse countries around the world.”

 Kenyans listed among the individuals targeted face removal proceedings under the agency’s ongoing operations.

ICE stated it conducts these operations in compliance with federal law and respects due process for those affected.

 The U.S. government’s stance on immigration enforcement has evolved over the years.

President Donald Trump’s first week in office saw him grant immigration authorities the power to sidestep courts to expel migrants without legal documentation more quickly.

Workplace immigration raids soon occurred in Chicago and Newark, New Jersey.

Newark’s mayor, Ras Baraka, criticised the raids, calling them unconstitutional.

 Since assuming office on January 20, Trump has promised the “largest deportation operation” in U.S. history.

On Sunday, a nationwide immigration crackdown resulted in the arrest of 956 people, the highest number since Trump returned to power.

Several federal agencies with newly expanded detention powers were involved in the raids across cities, including Chicago, Newark and Miami.

 Trump’s mass deportation agenda has been a focal point of his administration, following a campaign promise to overhaul the immigration system.

His predecessor, Joe Biden, deported an average of 311 individuals daily, mostly those with criminal records.

Since taking office, Trump has signed 21 executive actions to reshape U.S. immigration policy.