Justice Department Uncovers Million-Dollar Green Card Fraud Scheme
Posted on08/15/26 at 12:31
- 11 people have been charged
- They were investigating fake marriages
- They charged up to $100,000
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged 11 people with participating in a scheme to fraudulently obtain permanent resident cards.
The plan allegedly used fake marriages between U.S. citizens and immigrants, mainly Chinese citizens seeking to obtain a «green card».
Green Card Fraud Scheme Operated for Over a Decade
The Department of Justice accuses a group of organizing over 1,000 fraudulent marriages between U.S. citizens and Chinese citizens seeking to obtain permanent residency. https://t.co/m4iqkqPlVM
— Mag. (@Mag_ECpe) August 15, 2026
The operation was organized from New York and allegedly functioned for over a decade, according to U.S. authorities.
The perpetrators charged up to $100,000 for each permanent resident card obtained through the scheme.
Why it matters: Authorities believe the group organized over 1,000 fake marriages and generated tens of millions of dollars over the years.
U.S. Citizens Received Up to $30,000
U.S. accuses 11 people of fraud with fake marriages to obtain green cards #ElTiempoMonclova https://t.co/9HJNyHsr70
— El Tiempo (@ElTiempo_Mx) August 13, 2026
The scheme began with the recruitment of U.S. citizens willing to participate in fake marriages with immigrants.
According to court documents, these individuals could receive payments of up to $30,000 for entering into a marriage.
The immigrants sought to use these unions to advance in the process of obtaining legal permanent resident status.
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The accused, meanwhile, could charge up to $100,000 for each permanent resident card obtained through the plan.
Authorities consider that the operation generated tens of millions of dollars over approximately a decade.
Additionally, they believe that the perpetrators organized over 1,000 fake weddings during the investigated period.
The Department of Justice describes the case as one of the largest cases related to marriage fraud in U.S. history.
«This scheme was not a quick and fleeting operation,» said Justice Secretary Todd Blanche to journalists.
Blanche described it as a «years-long clandestine industry» aimed at facilitating access to U.S. migration status in a criminal manner.
They Organized Weddings and Staged Family Photos
The alleged fraud did not end after organizing the weddings between the immigrants and the recruited U.S. citizens.
According to authorities, the accused also sought to create elements that would allow them to present the relationships as legitimate marriages.
In some cases, they organized photos of supposed families in places like restaurants after the weddings.
The goal was to obtain images that would help make the relationships appear real during the migration process.
Subsequently, the accused helped the immigrants navigate the procedure to apply for legal permanent resident status.
«These schemes have a real cost,» Blanche said, referring to the consequences of this type of operation.
«They deprive our country of the ability to know who should and who should not be admitted to the United States,» he added.
Among the accused are also individuals alleged to have participated directly in the celebration of the fake weddings.
Charges Come Amid Trump’s Migration Restrictions
The charges were presented while the administration of President Donald Trump maintains restrictions on both legal and unauthorized immigration.
These measures aim to tighten control over the people who can enter the United States or eventually become citizens.
In this context, the Department of Justice presented a formal indictment against the 11 individuals accused of participating in the scheme.
The case was presented in New York, where authorities claim the operation was organized over the years.
The accusations cover different functions within the alleged plan, including individuals accused of officiating some of the fake marriages.
The judicial process will now determine the responsibility of each of the accused in the activities described by the authorities.
For the moment, it is unknown if the 11 accused have lawyers who can make public statements on their behalf.