Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 13

ICE Arrests 22 Citizens, Aliens in Iowa Marriage Fraud Scam

DES MOINES, Iowa — ICE special agents arrested 22 people June 1 for allegedly participating in marriage fraud schemes designed to evade U.S. immigration laws.

According to indictments filed in federal court, participants in the sham relationships married only so that the Kenyan nationals involved could obtain permanent resident status, commonly referred to as having a “green card.” In return, the U.S. citizens were paid for entering into the fraudulent marriages.

“A priority for ICE is to identify vulnerabilities in our legal immigration system and shut them down,” said Mark Cangemi, ICE Special Agent-in-Charge. “We will not allow America’s generosity to be abused by those who try to manipulate the system for criminal purposes.”

About three years ago, ICE’s Des Moines office began investigating a loosely affiliated group of persons that includes those arrested today. Allegedly, U.S. citizens who agreed to enter a sham marriage received between $250 and $1,000 up front, then received monthly payments until the Kenyans’ “green cards” became permanent, a process that takes about two years.

In addition to the 22 currently in custody, 10 additional people have been indicted for conspiring to enter a marriage to evade immigration laws, marriage fraud, and making false statements, but have not yet been arrested.

The U.S. Marshals Service and the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General assisted ICE in the arrests.

Conspiracy charges carry possible prison terms of five years; charges of making false statements carry a possible term of 15 years; and marriage fraud charges carry a possible term of 10 years.

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

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