Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped a vehicle in Seattle on 26 October 2026 and detained Stanley Robert Kungu Muthee, who was wearing a Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families jacket at the time.

Muthee, a Kenyan national, has been employed by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) since 16 August 2024, according to agency payroll records.

DCYF’s communications director, Nancy Gutierrez, said the agency performed standard employment verification when Muthee was hired and that he submitted documentation showing a USCIS work‑authorisation number without an expiration date.

ICE alleges Muthee entered the United States on a B‑2 tourist visa on 6 February 2019, overstayed the authorized period and later obtained employment with DCYF without lawful immigration status.

Public records show Muthee also held a nursing‑assistant certification issued by the Washington State Department of Health, valid from 23 June 2024 to 2 February 2025, though the link to his DCYF duties is unclear.

ICE clarified that a valid work permit does not shield a person from removal if immigration authorities consider them unlawfully present, citing the Department of Homeland Security’s position on the separation of work authorisation and immigration status.

The case occurs amid a broader enforcement focus on Kenyan nationals; in October 2026, the Department of Homeland Security added 50 Kenyans to its “Worst of the Worst” enforcement list, the largest single‑national grouping, and ICE records list 1,282 Kenyans with final removal orders.

ICE has not disclosed whether Muthee has legal representation or is contesting removal proceedings, and no further details on his detention status have been released.