DOJ Targets Marriage and Immigration Fraud Schemes

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is intensifying efforts against immigration fraud by targeting substantial illegal operations. Recently, authorities charged 11 individuals for orchestrating over 1,000 sham marriages that exploited the visa system.

In addition, Texas officials are addressing birth tourism centers that grant instant American citizenship to newborns of Chinese nationals. These actions reflect a broader crackdown on immigration fraud in the United States.

A former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official and an accomplice face charges in an alleged bribery scheme involving nearly $960,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced the arrest of Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye for their roles in receiving illegal payments to expedite immigration applications, including citizenship cases.

The duo faces charges of conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official. Investigators uncovered extensive WhatsApp communications between Ganiyu, Somoye, and numerous applicants, featuring thousands of messages and hundreds of calls.

Between December 2019 and March 2026, prosecutors allege that Ganiyu bypassed standard immigration procedures, expediting applications for those who paid bribes. This bypass included skipping criminal background checks, interviews, and standard USCIS processing protocols.

Ganiyu allegedly fast-tracked citizenship for Somoye and approved residency applications for Somoye’s family, manipulating the USCIS system for financial gain. He allegedly redirected applications from USCIS field offices, bypassing local supervisors for expedited approval.

Documents reveal that Ganiyu received about $671,438 through Zelle and Cash App, along with $287,830 in cash deposits intended to conceal the source of the funds. As the financial intermediary, Somoye reportedly managed transfers totaling around $1.7 million, involving multiple payment methods, while keeping a portion of the payments.

The complaint indicates that the majority of applications involved applicants from African countries. Ganiyu resigned from USCIS in March 2023, citing personal reasons before his arrest. Prosecutors state that selling immigration benefits for monetary gain constitutes a serious breach of public trust.

Both defendants face the possibility of up to five years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to intervene against any federal official profiting from unlawful status sales.