USCIS assisting other government agencies in immigration related crimes

If you go to the USCIS website today, you will find in the News Releases section that the agency now publishes its cooperation with the FBI and other government agencies in apprehending Immigration Law violators. This is something new that the agency has done and not surprisingly, during this administration. In the past, you can only read about big-time offenses such as large-scale smuggling or fraud, but now, there has been a bigger emphasis in publishing USCIS being instrumental in assisting in the investigation and eventual conviction of immigration-related crimes.

A few examples come to mind:

USCIS provided valuable assistance that led to the sentencing of a Mexican for a smuggling and labor trafficking scheme. This is a case where victims typically arranged with a "coyote" or a human smuggler to cross into the US in exchange for between $15,000 and $20,000, payable when they were in the US. In most cases, victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico. They were smuggled into Connecticut. There victims were told that they would have to pay approximately $30,000, with interest, and for rent, food, gas, and utilities. They were given fake documents such as green cards and Social Security cards, and were assisted in finding employment. In addition, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork without compensation or having their debt reduced. If victims failed to make regular payments they were sometimes threatened.

In another case, USCIS played a critical role in an FBI-led investigation that brought a would-be terrorist to justice. The investigation resulted in an Afghan pleading guilty to federal terrorism-related firearms charges in connection with a planned Election Day attack inspired by ISIS.

The Afghan pleaded guilty to knowingly receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition with the intent to commit terrorism.

In New York, USCIS assisted in the investigation that led to the apprehension of 133 illegal aliens between March 24 and 28. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) announced that during the five-day enhanced operation, ICE and federal law enforcement partners targeted criminal illegal alien offenders and other immigration violators in western, central, and northern New York. Of those arrested, 20 had criminal convictions or charges, including three who were convicted of homicide. Nine were aliens who had been previously removed from the US. Four criminal search warrants were executed during the operation, specifically during the worksite enforcement component of the operation for federal violations of bringing in and harboring certain aliens. The warrants resulted in multiple bookings and records seizures as well as 18 administrative arrests for violations of immigration law.

A suburban Chicago businessman has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly providing false and fraudulent information to US authorities to obtain immigration benefits for his foreign national clients, following an investigation assisted by USCIS. Jose Gregorio Sosa Cardona operated Delta Global Solutions, Inc., which assisted individuals in applying for asylum, immigrant visas, lawful permanent residence cards, and other immigration benefits. From 2020 to 2024, he conspired with two employees of his firm and others to knowingly provide false and fraudulent information to USCIS for his foreign national clients who were seeking benefits. The indictment accuses him of, among other things, fabricating foreign law enforcement reports and foreign political party membership letters to falsely corroborate his clients’ asylum claims. He also falsely represented to US immigration officials that he was an attorney licensed to practice law in Ohio, when, in fact, he was not an attorney and not authorized to represent applicants in immigration proceedings before USCIS, the indictment states.

These and a host of other cases are only examples of how USCIS can be very instrumental in the investigation, arrest and eventual conviction of immigration related crimes as it collaborates with other government agencies.