Six Ugandan nationals have been listed on a US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website featuring foreign nationals arrested by immigration authorities after being convicted of serious crimes.
"The US Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)," DHS said in an online statement.
According to DHS, the individuals were arrested in different parts of the United States after being found guilty of crimes including assault, sexual offences, and fraud.
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The list forms part of a broader crackdown on foreigners with serious criminal records.
"Under Secretary Noem's leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump's promise and carrying out mass deportations starting with the worst of the worst, including the illegal aliens you see here," DHS added.
The Ugandans named include:
- Hannington Mutenga, arrested in Utah after a conviction for assault;
- Kiwana Mukiibi, arrested in California after convictions for aggravated assault with a weapon and assault;
- Adrian Kawuba, arrested in Pennsylvania after a conviction for wire fraud;
- Winner Mangeni, arrested in Massachusetts after convictions for assault and fleeing from justice;
- Derrick Sserwanja, arrested in Minnesota after a conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor via telecommunications;
- Daudah Mayanja, arrested in Vermont after a conviction for sexual assault.
DHS says it is prioritizing the "worst of the worst" as it enforces U.S. immigration laws against foreigners with serious criminal backgrounds.
An ICE arrest does not automatically mean deportation. Individuals are typically held in immigration custody while officials determine whether they should be removed from the United States, a process that can involve immigration court hearings or appeals.
The listing signals tougher U.S. immigration enforcement and could prompt countries like Uganda to accept deported nationals. DHS has not yet indicated when decisions on the six Ugandans' cases will be concluded.
President Trump's administration has launched the largest domestic deportation operation in US history, moving beyond "felons-only" policies to target anyone eligible for deportation.
Under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, top targets include foreigners convicted of violent crimes, gang involvement, or fraud.
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To implement this policy, the administration allocated $45 billion to hire 12,000 additional ICE agents and expand detention facilities, including temporary tent camps. Measures such as "Operation Metro Surge" involve visible raids in sanctuary cities, and the Laken Riley Act mandates detention for certain offenses.
By early 2026, DHS reports having removed over 675,000 people, with another 2.2 million reportedly "self-deporting" under the pressure of enforcement.
While officials hail the operation as a success for public safety and the economy, critics argue that many detainees have no criminal record and that the overall scale of the program remains a significant challenge.
