The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has denied reports that it is paying $750 (Sh96,900) to anyone who reports illegal immigrants for deportation.

In a statement, ICE said that it was not giving any rewards for tips in support of the same.

“For the record, contrary to rumours, ICE is not giving a $750 reward for tips in support of civil immigration enforcement objectives,” the agency said.

The ICE further explained that some of the arrests are targeted at known criminals.

“Targeted enforcement operations are planned arrests of known criminal aliens who threaten national security or public safety.”

Since the beginning of the arrests, Sunday recorded the highest number at 956 arrests leading to at least 554 detentions.

ICE is targeting any of the estimated more than 11 million immigrants in the country without legal status, not just those identified as priorities for deportation for being convicted criminals or other public safety threats.

The statement comes amid fears that a section of the population was reporting undocumented immigrants in exchange for the reward money.

Following the reward claims, a section of Kenyans took to social media to offer tips to their peers who live in the United States illegally on how they can evade arrest by ICE office 

Popular TikToker Arnold Malcom who lives in the US is one of the online personalities who have been very vocal about the alleged ICE reward claims.

Malcolm, in a video, cautioned against selling out fellow citizens, while also giving what he termed as valuable advice to Kenyans who may be the subject of such arrests and detentions.

"Trump has not been in office for three days and you have started reporting people. You know, I always tell people, if you know your things are not set (papers) don’t tell people, cheza chini," he said.

He continued to lament about Kenyans' behaviour of wanting to profit from the misfortunes of others alleging that the Department of Homeland Security had offered the reward.

He, however, called for any persons who might want to report their peers to find an amicable solution.

"Play it down, and if possible, try and find a solution,” Malcolm claimed.

He further claimed that two Kenyans had been rounded up after their peers reported them to the authorities for being in the US illegally.

The same was alleged by another Kenyan known as The Kenyan American Home on Instagram.

He claimed to have seen a video of a police officer in Texas narrating how two Kenyans had called to report other Kenyans.

“He was giving a story how during his shift two Kenyans called to give a tip about other undocumented Kenyans. Guys take care, the first one called and even gave the home address. Then the second called the cops on a Kenyan woman who is marrying for papers and that marriage is fake,” he said.

The arrests and deportations are a result of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump soon after he took oath of office for a second term.  By BRIAN ORUTA, The Star