Green Card Fraud Network Arranged 1,000 Sham Marriages, Trump DOJ Says
Some immigrants paid thousands of dollars to take part in the scheme, which led to permanent legal status, the DOJ said.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of 11 individuals accused of running a massive green card marriage fraud scheme, which allegedly involved arranging over 1,000 sham marriages to obtain permanent legal status, primarily for Chinese nationals between 2016 and July 2026. According to prosecutors, these defendants conspired to commit marriage and immigration fraud, and also conspired to encourage illegal residence of aliens within the United States.
The charges against the defendants could result in up to five and 10 years in prison, respectively. The scheme allegedly stretched beyond New York State, with marriages taking place in various other states including Connecticut, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Authorities claim that the defendants promoted their services through word-of-mouth, social media, and other advertising channels, charging victims up to $100,000 for their "services" while recruiters and facilitators earned commissions for finding U.S. citizens to participate in these fraudulent marriages.
Organizers allegedly staged wedding ceremonies and photo shoots to make the unions appear genuine, submitting these images to immigration authorities as evidence of bona fide relationships. The indictment further alleges that the network prepared and filed fraudulent immigration paperwork, convincing officials that the marriages were authentic.
This indictment marks one of the largest marriage fraud schemes ever charged in the United States, with the DOJ stating it dismantles a central component of this criminal enterprise, highlighting their commitment to pursuing those who seek to exploit U.S. immigration laws for personal gain.
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