US-Based Kenyan Lawmaker Says Immigrant Families Are Living in Fear Over Deportation

• Nyamira-born Minnesota lawmaker Huldah Momanyi has spoken out against ICE operations in the US state
• She shared that parents fear taking their children to school, while workers are scared to report to their jobs
• Huldah’s sentiments shed light on the everyday fears of many immigrant families who now worry about stepping outside their homes

Minnesota — Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley, a Kenyan-born Minnesota legislator, has raised alarm over growing fear among immigrant families following recent ICE operations in the state.

Speaking as both an immigrant and a lawmaker, Huldah said many families are now afraid to go about their daily lives, warning that the situation is tearing communities apart.

In a post on Facebook, she disclosed that as an immigrant and a Minnesota legislator, she is watching her community live in fear, with families are afraid to leave their homes.

“Parents are afraid to take their children to school. Workers are afraid to show up to their jobs. This is not who we are as a state,” she lamented.

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Born in Nyamira County, Kenya, Huldah moved to the United States in 1994 to reunite with her parents.

Years later, she made history as the first Kenyan-American elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, a milestone celebrated by Kenyans both in the US and back home.

But amid the pride of her political achievement, Huldah says she is deeply concerned about the impact of federal immigration enforcement on vulnerable communities.

She has called on her Minnesota GOP colleagues to publicly condemn ICE operations that she believes are harming families and violating human rights.

“I am calling on my Minnesota GOP colleagues to speak out clearly and publicly against the harm being inflicted on our communities by ICE’s actions here in Minnesota,” she said. “We must demand an immediate end to this federal overreach in our state.”

According to Huldah, silence from leaders during this moment could have lasting consequences.

Her sentiments reflect the fears of many immigrant families who now worry about going to work, taking their children to school, or even stepping outside their homes.

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“Silence in this moment is not neutrality,” she warned. “History will remember who chose to speak up and who chose to look away while human rights were violated in plain sight.”

Supporters say Huldah’s voice represents not only political leadership, but also the lived experiences of immigrants striving for safety, dignity, and opportunity.

For many Kenyans in the diaspora, her story stands as both a symbol of hope and a reminder of the responsibility leaders carry in defending vulnerable communities.

Huldah Hiltsley was 39 years old when she made history as the first Kenyan-American to secure a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

In a spirited race for District 38A, the Democratic candidate emerged victorious over Republican Brad Olson, capturing 65% of the vote against Olson’s 35%.

The victory sparked celebrations among her supporters, with family and friends dancing in joy both in Minnesota and back home in Nyamira, Kenya.

Source: TUKO.co.ke