US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed the arrest of Stanley Robert Kungu Muthee, a Kenyan national employed by Washington State's Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Muthee was detained during a traffic stop on Monday, October 26, 2026, by ICE's Seattle office. According to reports, Muthee entered the United States on February 6, 2019, on a B-2 tourist visa but allegedly remained in the country beyond his authorised period of stay.
At the time of his arrest, Muthee was wearing a DCYF jacket and had a state agency identification card. He acknowledged working for the department. ICE criticised the employment of people it considers to be unlawfully present in the United States by government agencies responsible for children's welfare. The agency stated that American taxpayer dollars should not pay the salaries of individuals it deems to be in the country illegally.
Washington State's Department of Children, Youth, and Families confirmed that Muthee had been employed by the agency since August 16, 2024. According to Nancy Gutierrez, the department's director of communications, Muthee provided documentation during the recruitment process indicating that he was authorised to work in the United States. This included a valid United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) number with no expiration date.
However, permission to work in the United States does not, by itself, establish that a person has an independent legal basis to remain in the country. The circumstances surrounding Muthee's employment and immigration status are still unclear. It is not known whether Muthee had an asylum application or another pending immigration case that could have authorised his continued presence in the country.
This arrest comes weeks after ICE announced the detention of another Kenyan national, Eric Maloba, following a tractor-trailer crash in Hamblen County, Tennessee. Maloba was arrested on August 28, 2026, and was later reported to be in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings. According to ICE, Maloba had entered the United States legally but remained after his authorised period of admission expired.
ICE said a local law enforcement partner participating in its 287(g) programme assisted in Maloba's arrest. The programme allows participating state and local law enforcement officers to perform specified immigration enforcement functions under agreements with the federal agency. This programme has been instrumental in identifying and detaining individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States.
The arrest of Muthee and Maloba highlights the ongoing efforts of ICE to enforce immigration laws and ensure that individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States are held accountable. The agency continues to emphasise the importance of verifying the immigration status of individuals employed by government agencies, particularly those responsible for the care and well-being of children.
Key points
- A Kenyan national employed by Washington State's Department of Children, Youth, and Families was arrested by ICE for allegedly overstaying his visa.
- The arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of ICE to enforce immigration laws and ensure that individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States are held accountable.
- The circumstances surrounding Muthee's employment and immigration status are still unclear.
