A viral video incorrectly presents a 2017 news report as relating to 2025 deportations of Kenyans. The video was originally published 2017 and falsely attributed to KTN News’ 2025 reporting. Trump’s strict immigration policies face scrutiny and concern within the Kenyan community.
A viral video falsely claims that KTN News reported on the deportation of Kenyans and Somalis from the United States in 2025. A reverse image search reveals that the footage is actually from 2017, which disproves any link to alleged 2025 deportations. This misinformation has circulated amidst President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration enforcement policies since he began his second term on January 20, 2025.
Since assuming office, President Trump has intensified efforts on immigration enforcement, leading to an increase in deportations. In a congressional address, he requested additional funding to bolster these enforcement actions, citing heightened security needs at the border. Recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicate that 37,660 individuals were deported in Trump’s first month, a figure that does not surpass the average monthly deportations during Joe Biden’s presidency.
A specific video, widely shared on Facebook and attributed to the now-defunct KTN News, features narrative from former reporter Betty Kyallo. It includes a list of names purportedly linked to deportations, claiming that “64 Somalis and 7 Kenyans [were] deported from the United States.”
However, the video misrepresents the situation, focusing on events from 2017. A reverse image search led to the original video uploaded in May 2017, which discusses the deportation of these individuals and shows familiarity with the names listed. This earlier footage has no relevance to the supposed deportations in 2025, as KTN News had ceased operations before this date, and Kyallo had left the channel in August 2018.
The ongoing aggressive enforcement of immigration policies by the Trump administration has led to notable protests across the United States, particularly from the Kenyan community, who are concerned about possible impacts on their residency status. This confusion over the video only adds to the distress among those targeted under the current regime.
This analysis affirms that the viral video erroneously links a 2017 deportation report to events in 2025. The facts clarify that the original footage does not pertain to the current immigration policies or deportations instigated during Trump’s recent presidential term. The misinformation surrounding this video underscores the importance of verifying sources and the data associated with immigration-related news.
Original Source: africacheck.org