Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces

Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces are located in Atlanta, Ga.; Boston, Mass.; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Los Angeles, Calif.; New York, N.Y.; Newark, N.J.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and St. Paul, Minn. The ten task forces build upon the success of an existing document and benefit fraud task force in the Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia area.

Led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the task forces build on existing partnerships to bring investigators together from a variety of agencies with expertise in different aspects of document and benefit fraud. These agents will partner with U.S. Attorney’s Offices to formulate a comprehensive approach in targeting criminal organizations behind these schemes as well as the ineligible beneficiaries of such fraud. Any case in which a sufficient nexus to terrorism is discovered will be referred to the Joint Terrorism Task Forces.

Participants in the task forces include ICE, the Department of Justice, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, State Department Office of Inspector General, State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies. The task forces will primarily target two types of crimes:

Document fraud

This crime refers to the manufacture, sale or use of counterfeit identity documents, such as fake driver’s licenses, birth certificates, social security cards, or passports, for immigration fraud or other criminal activity. Document fraud also includes efforts to obtain genuine identity documents through fraudulent means. These activities have helped illegal aliens, criminals and even terrorists evade detection and embed themselves in our society. Document fraud often supports the crime of benefit fraud.

The threat posed by document fraud is exemplified by the fact that at least seven of the 9/11 hijackers obtained genuine Virginia identity documents by submitting fraudulent Virginia residency certificates. Using these ID cards, the hijackers were able to clear airport security and board aircraft for the attacks.

Benefit fraud

This crime refers to the misrepresentation or omission of material facts on an application to obtain an immigration benefit one is not entitled to—such as U.S. citizenship, political asylum or a valid visa. Because these benefits give one the ability to freely enter, work or reside in this country, they are prized by illegal aliens, criminals, and terrorists who may be willing to pay substantial fees for them. As a result, the criminal organizations that help individuals fraudulently obtain immigration benefits reap enormous profits.