American journalist forcibly deported to Dubai sues African government, fights to return to East Africa after immigration row

American freelance journalist Margot Kiser Jones has launched a court case against officials in Kenya following her sudden deportation to Dubai.

• American journalist Margot Kiser Jones was deported from Kenya to Dubai after being labeled a prohibited immigrant over alleged security and public morals concerns.
• She claims the Kenyan authorities did not provide due process, as she was not notified of the decision or given a chance to defend herself.
• Jones highlights the contradiction of being granted a three-year residency permit months after her blacklisting, suggesting administrative errors.
• Government officials argue the deportation was lawful, blaming a system misspelling for failure to flag her prohibited status when the permit was issued.

Known for reporting on the high-profile Shakahola trial involving preacher Paul Mackenzie, Jones was removed from the country in March 2026 after authorities designated her a prohibited immigrant.

She is now urging the court to overturn the government's decision and permit her immediate return to the East African country.

American reporter challenges Kenya over sudden deportation to Dubai

According to court filings reported by Tuko, Kenyan authorities placed Jones on the prohibited immigrant list on October 9, 2025, citing a national security report that claimed her presence threatened public morals and safety.

However, officials did not send her back to her home country, the United States, but instead deported her to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on March 8, 2026.

Jones contends that state officers conducted the entire process without due process.

She asserts that she was never presented with the intelligence report or given an opportunity to defend herself prior to her expulsion.

In a filed affidavit, Jones explained: "By failing to notify me of the decision, the respondents effectively denied me my constitutional right to challenge the decision before its implementation".

Furthermore, she argued that being dropped in Dubai left her stranded without accommodation or contacts, placing her in a precarious situation.

She also pointed out that immigration officials allowed her to travel freely within Kenya for nearly six months after declaring her a threat, casting doubt on the urgency of the security claims.

Contradictory visa records fuel U.S. journalist's fight to return to Kenya

A major element of the legal petition involves a three-year Class K residency permit issued to Jones on February 5, 2026, four months after she was supposedly declared an illegal alien.

Jones argues that receiving official residency approval either invalidates the original ban or gave her a legitimate reason to believe her stay in Kenya was lawful.

In response, government representatives explained that a system misspelling of her surname prevented the database from flagging her prohibited status, though Jones maintains that administrative mistakes remain the state's responsibility.

Government bodies including the Directorate of Immigration Services, the Ministry of Interior, and the Attorney-General defend the action as lawful under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, insisting that prohibited individuals cannot reside in the country regardless of permit errors.

Tuko reported that Jones is demanding that the court rule her deportation unconstitutional.

She is also seeking an order mandating that authorities facilitate her re-entry into Kenya, force full disclosure of her immigration files, and award damages for emotional distress and safety risks.