Contra Costa Nurse Deported to Kenya After ICE Arrest
A former Contra Costa County Covid team member was deported to Kenya last week after two decades in the U.S.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Immigration
Maureen Wanjiru Ngure, a nurse who served on the Contra Costa County Covid team, was deported to Kenya by federal immigration officials on September 22. Her arrest occurred in August at a San Francisco ICE office, leading to her removal after a final order issued in 2012.
Why it matters
The case highlights the disruption of a long-term Bay Area family following the enforcement of a years-old removal order. The family now faces the challenge of rebuilding their lives abroad, with possible future relocation to Canada under consideration.
Ngure lived in the United States for 20 years before her removal. Supporters raised $26,000 on a GoFundMe page to assist the family, surpassing the $3,000 payment previously offered for voluntary self-deportation.
The players
Maureen Wanjiru Ngure
A nurse who previously worked on the Contra Costa County Covid Team.
ICE
The federal agency responsible for the arrest and deportation of foreign nationals.
The details
Ngure was arrested during an appointment at the San Francisco ICE office and held in multiple detention centers across California, Arizona, Louisiana, and New Jersey. Federal officials stated the action followed her illegal overstay of a student visa. Her husband and two children departed from San Francisco International Airport on September 25 to join her in Kenya.
Timeline
November 2006: Ngure arrived in the United States.
February 2012: An immigration judge issued a final removal order.
August 2026: ICE agents arrested Ngure at their San Francisco office.
September 22, 2026: Ngure was deported to Kenya.
September 25, 2026: Her family members flew to Kenya from SFO.
Across the Bay
This enforcement action follows the standard protocols set by federal visa overstay policies. It marks the culmination of a legal process initiated by a 2012 removal order.
Residents should be aware that appointments at federal immigration offices can result in immediate detention for those with outstanding removal orders. The family has vacated their local residence and is no longer reachable in the Bay Area.
The takeaway
This case underscores the persistent risk for individuals living under long-standing, unexecuted removal orders. Families navigating similar legal uncertainty may monitor the status of their cases through official immigration court records.
Further reading
Read more about local advocacy and legal challenges in our Immigration section.
