Fifteen Kenyans have been arrested in the United States in a crackdown on illegal immigrants following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The Kenyans living in Boston, Massachusetts, were arrested in Des Moines, Iowa, while trying to obtain social security numbers, and are now in jail awaiting trial, the Nation learnt yesterday.

As news of their arrests reached Nairobi, Foreign Affairs Minister Chris Obure, in an official visit to the US, assured America that Kenya fully supported its war against terrorism.

The arrests appear to have coincided with a Government statement issued yesterday that no Kenyan citizen, irrespective of religious faith, was allowed to visit foreign embassies and missions in Nairobi or abroad to express personal or group views on terrorism.

The statement from the Presidential Press Service said that the Government had in place an institution to deal with foreign embassies and missions - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Sidestepping the ministry would not be tolerated, the Government said.

The Kenyans arrested in the US were given bond of $5,000 (about Sh390,000) each which they were unable to raise.

An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was unaware of the arrests and that the Kenyans could be among those who had not registered with the embassy in Washington.

They were seized as US President George W. Bush announced new measures to tighten immigration laws to lock out suspected terrorists.

On Wednesday, US Attorney General John Ashcroft said the number of immigration officers manning the borders would be doubled.

He also announced the creation of a "foreign terrorist tracking task force" and said new steps would be taken to deport suspected terrorists and deny entry to other suspect foreigners.

Although the guidelines of the new laws are not yet published, a spokesman for the US embassy in Nairobi, Mr Peter Claussen, said visa requirements would be strict.

Illegal immigrants have been given 180 days to leave or face arrest. Those who defy the order, including students, will be seized and deported pending a review of their cases.

In addition, they will be asked to reapply from their home countries. It was a tradition for Kenyans living in the US to cross the borders to Canada and Mexico to reapply, and within half a day their papers were ready.

But it now takes three to four weeks to renew a visa or petition for another visa.

Many Kenyans are believed to live illegally in the United States. Thousands of those given student visas never report to their schools and colleges.

Kenyans in the US have been warned by their colleagues: "Unless you have a Green Card, make sure that you are legal and on status."

"Some of us came here as visitors and have overstayed; it does not matter what number of years is stated on your visa, know that you are here illegally if your I-94 has expired."

Those who obtained visas as students and then abandoned their studies were also told that they were staying illegally.

Illegal immigrants living in the US depended on the principle of individual freedom Ð so long as one did not break the law, security agencies kept their hands off. No policemen ever asked for an identity card.

However, since the September 11 attacks there has been an unprecedented vigilance.

The National Guard now patrol airports and other installations, and policemen can be seen in subways, railway stations, bus terminals, shopping malls and ball parks.

Bridges and tunnels in big cities like New York are permanently manned, with restrictions placed on tractor trailers and other trucks that may carry hazardous materials.

With President Bush signing the new anti-terrorism Bill into law last Thursday, a more rigorous vetting process for people applying for US visas will be adopted.

He has made it clear no resources will be spared to ensure that the threat of terrorists, real or potential, is eliminated.

Kenya's Foreign Minister Mr Obure expressed Kenya's support during a meeting on Wednesday with his host, US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"At this trying time, we would like to assure our friends in the US that Kenya will cooperate fully with the US government and the international fraternity in the ongoing war against terrorism," Mr Obure told reporters at the State Department in Washington.

He said Kenya would cooperate with the international community and would take necessary measures. "Please be assured that the United States has a true and dependable ally, my country, Kenya," he said.

Gen Powell recalled that Kenya has also suffered from terrorist violence. He attributed the 1998 Nairobi and Dar es Salaam embassy bombings to Osama bin Laden, drawing a parallel between those atrocities and the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Noting that many more Kenyans than Americans died in the embassy bombings, Gen Powell said this underscored the "evil nature" of Mr bin Laden's terrorist enterprise. "In order to get an American facility they were willing to kill so many innocent people of another nation."

Gen Powell was at Mr Obure's side throughout the brief session.

The two officials summarised in general terms the content of their private discussions earlier on Wednesday.

Their talks centred on regional issues, including the conflicts in Sudan and Somalia, Gen Powell said, voicing thanks for the Kenyan Government's efforts to promote peace and stability in neighbouring states.

Mr Obure said that the US had a crucial role to play in helping to bring about peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes.

Bilateral trade and economic matters were also reviewed in Wednesday's talks, Mr Powell noted but he offered no specifics.

He welcomed the support extended by Kenya: "We are so pleased that Kenya has joined us in this campaign as part of our coalition. We deeply appreciate the support of President Moi, of the minister, and of their government and of the people of Kenya."

Mr Obure relayed President Moi's condolences for the loss of life suffered in the September 11 attacks of the World Trade Centre and partial destruction of the Pentagon.

The minister had travelled to Washington in response to an invitation to take part in a ministerial forum on the new US programme to promote trade with Africa.

President Bush's presence at the forum on Monday was a vivid demonstration of his strong commitment to Africa, Mr Obure said.