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 Trump administration has charged 11 individuals in connection with a massive green card marriage fraud scheme that allegedly orchestrated over 1,000 sham marriages to facilitate the acquisition of permanent legal status for mostly Chinese nationals. Over a decade-long operation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that individuals paid up to $100,000 for the service, with recruiters and facilitators earning commissions for finding U.S. citizens willing to participate.
The scheme, which stretched across the country including states like Connecticut, Kentucky, and Tennessee, involved staging wedding ceremonies and photo shoots to make the unions appear genuine. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, with potential prison sentences ranging from five to 10 years.
The DOJ stated that this was a nationwide and international enterprise that generated millions of dollars while producing more than 1,000 fraudulent marriage arrangements.
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