U.S. immigration authorities have arrested a Kenyan national employed by Washington State’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families over allegations that he overstayed his visa and remained in the country unlawfully.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that its Seattle office arrested Stanley Robert Kungu Muthee during a traffic stop on Monday.

According to details reported by Fox News, Muthee entered the United States on February 6, 2019, on a B-2 tourist visa but allegedly failed to leave after its permitted period of stay.

Muthee was reportedly wearing a jacket bearing the state agency’s name and carrying an employee identification card when he was arrested.

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families confirmed that Muthee had been employed by the agency since August 16, 2024.

The department’s Director of Communications, Nancy Gutierrez, said Muthee had submitted documentation indicating he was authorised to work in the United States during the hiring process.

The documents included a valid United States Citizenship and Immigration Services number with no expiration date, according to Gutierrez, who added that the agency had not been informed of any change in his immigration status.

Following the arrest, ICE criticised the employment of individuals it alleges are unlawfully present in government agencies tasked with protecting children and supporting families.

However, US immigration law distinguishes between permission to work and lawful immigration status.

Some individuals with pending asylum applications may qualify for employment authorisation while awaiting a decision on their cases.

Such authorisation does not automatically confer lawful immigration status or prevent detention or deportation proceedings.

The available information does not establish whether Muthee had any pending immigration application or other legal basis for remaining in the country.

Further details about his case and the circumstances surrounding his employment have not been provided.

The arrest comes amid an ICE crackdown, with agents ordered to increase arrests nationwide.