{
  "id": 1862114,
  "title": "'Front agents' at centre of latest unlawful migration crackdown",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/front-agents-at-centre-of-latest-unlawful-migration-crackdown",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T19:41:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SBS News",
    "slug": "sbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/omara-crackdown-front-agents-unlawful-migration-advice/zwd76kfzj"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) in Australia has vowed to eradicate fake agents from the migration profession following several unlawful immigration assistance cases. OMARA sanctioned three registered migration agents, describing it as part of an ongoing crackdown. Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, Julian Hill, emphasized the government's commitment to strengthening immigration oversight. He stated that clients expect qualified migration agents, not untrained or unregistered ones, to handle their cases. The three sanctioned agents were involved in allowing unregistered individuals to provide migration assistance under their Migration Agent Registration Numbers (MARNs). One case involved an agent whose registration was cancelled due to hundreds of visa applications being submitted through business ImmiAccounts, with either undisclosed immigration assistance or assistance provided by unregistered staff. Another case saw an agent suspended after his son, who was not a registered migration agent, provided immigration assistance on the business's behalf. The third case involved an agent who knowingly allowed another business director to lodge visa applications using his MARN while he was in the process of becoming a registered migration agent. OMARA has established a monitoring team since October, proactively monitoring 85 registered migration agents in the 2025-26 financial year. They identified 43 instances of non-compliance and addressed them through education, engagement, and regulatory action. The government has strengthened OMARA's regulatory capabilities, with both investigations and proactive monitoring to improve compliance and professional standards.",
  "summary": "Hundreds of lodged visa applications have been processed by fake or unregistered migration agents, according to a watchdog.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}