US government charges 11 people in scheme to obtain green cards through sham marriages

The Department of Justice announced charges against 11 individuals for their involvement in a large-scale scheme to facilitate the fraudulent acquisition of U.S. citizenship through sham marriages, primarily targeting Chinese nationals, according to officials. The operation, which spanned a decade, was orchestrated from New York and involved U.S. citizens who were paid up to $30,000 to enter into fraudulent marriages with immigrants seeking permanent residency.

The defendants reportedly charged up to $100,000 per green card, generating tens of millions of dollars from the scheme. Authorities estimate that over 1,000 sham weddings were arranged, labeling it as one of the most significant marriage fraud cases in U.S. history. Attorney General Todd Blanche described the operation as a years-long, multimillion-dollar business aimed at assisting individuals who would not have been able to become citizens under normal circumstances.

The charges stem from the scheme's reliance on U.S. citizens recruited to participate. Defendants were responsible for orchestrating the fake weddings, sometimes staging photos of families at establishments to appear legitimate, and assisting immigrants with the application process for lawful permanent residency. Blanche emphasized the significant impact of such schemes on the nation's ability to control immigration and ensure that only those rightfully eligible gain citizenship.