Kinds of Immigration Fraud
Since 2024, the federal government has cracked down hard on immigration crime. Most of the high-profile action centers on current residents with legal issues. The crackdown on immigration fraud has been quieter but may be more impactful. Residents with legal issues technically did something wrong. Potential immigration fraud crackdowns often target individuals who did nothing wrong.
A Tampa criminal defense lawyer must be particularly mindful about potential immigration fraud issues. Defense lawyers protect people from government overreach, and immigration fraud is an ideal example of this mission. Almost all immigrants come to America looking for better lives. Almost all immigrants deserve this chance, and a Tampa criminal defense lawyer helps ensure the opportunity is available.
Marriage Fraud
Matrimony is one of the most common entry mechanisms into the United States and also one of the easiest ones to fake.
Sometimes, the fraudulent spouse pays the other party. Or, the marriage may be entirely staged, generally for personal or political reasons. Immigration authorities investigate such cases by interviewing the parties involved, analyzing the relationship, and checking for signs of a “sham marriage.”
These signs include a lack of photographs taken together, inconsistencies about relationship details (e.g. where the first date occurred), and a failure to have ceremony arrangements, such as invitations, in place.
Document Fraud
Document fraud is the falsification, fabrication, or alteration of documents required for immigration processes. These documents include passports, birth certificates, education credentials, and employment records.
Generally, applicants submit false documents to secure visas, work permits, or asylum status. These false documents usually include counterfeit documents and altered documents. Many copies are very convincing, making it harder for authorities to detect fraud without conducting an intrusive investigation.
Asylum Fraud
Some individuals make false claims of persecution or danger in their home countries to obtain refugee status or asylum. To qualify for asylum, applicants must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on factors such as race, religion, nationality, or political opinion.
Typically, investigators look for prior physical acts, such as vandalism or kidnapping, to support these claims. Without such proof, these claims are very subjective. The decision could go one way or another, making a partnership with a Tampa criminal defense lawyer very important in these cases.
Asylum fraud is particularly concerning because it undermines the system designed to protect those genuinely in need of refuge, and it diverts resources away from legitimate asylum seekers.
Employment Fraud
This fraud includes false information about job offers, qualifications, or work experience to obtain work visas or permits. Other individuals misrepresent the nature of their employment, such as claiming to be an essential worker or falsely claiming an employer’s sponsorship.
Rather disturbingly, employment fraud often involves employers who exploit migrant workers or cooperate with individuals to circumvent legal processes.
Student Visa Fraud
This fraud, which is similar to employment fraud, could include falsifying academic transcripts, inflating the financial status of the applicant to show they can support themselves, or enrolling in fake institutions that exist solely to facilitate visa fraud.
Other individuals “school hop.” They attend an institution temporarily just to maintain their student status while working illegally or attempting to stay in the country long-term.
Contact a Dedicated Hillsborough County Attorney
A criminal charge is not the same thing as a criminal conviction. For a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, contact the OA Law Firm. Virtual, home, and jail visits are available.
Source:
pbs.org/newshour/politics/noem-confirms-more-ice-resources-are-heading-to-chicago-for-immigration-crackdown
