Authorities Take Action Against Immigration Fraud

The Department of Justice has charged 11 individuals for orchestrating sham marriages, involving over 1,000 fake unions, to exploit the visa system. This initiative forms part of a broader crackdown on immigration fraud.

Additionally, Texas officials are focusing on birth tourism centers that provide American citizenship to newborns of Chinese nationals. The effort aims to close loopholes in the current immigration framework.

Bribery Involving USCIS Official

A former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, and his associate, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, face allegations of a bribery scheme. They allegedly accepted nearly $960,000 to expedite immigration applications, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.

Charges filed against them include conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official. Both were apprehended as part of an investigation.

Evidence Uncovered

Authorities discovered extensive communication between Ganiyu, Somoye, and applicants. Thousands of messages and calls highlight their scheme to expedite citizenship cases.

Between December 2019 and March 2026, Ganiyu reportedly bypassed standard procedures for applicants who paid him, avoiding essential steps such as background checks and interviews.

Financial Transactions

Prosecutors allege Ganiyu manipulated USCIS systems to fast-track applications for cash. This included fast-tracking applications for Somoye and his family.

Investigations show roughly $671,438 was transferred to Ganiyu through digital payment platforms like Zelle and Cash App. An additional $287,830 was deposited in cash, reportedly to hide the money’s origin.

Somoye, acting as a financial intermediary, managed around $1.7 million in transactions, based on court reports. He also handled $449,010 in cash deposits.

Prosecution’s Statement

Most applications handled by Ganiyu and Somoye came from African countries. Both face a maximum of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould stated, “Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust. When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately.”