Twenty-one brokers, recruiters, and employers from across the United States who allegedly conspired with more than 1,000 foreign nationals to fraudulently maintain student visas and obtain foreign worker visas through a "pay to stay" New Jersey college were arrested this morning by federal agents, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
The defendants were arrested in New Jersey and Washington by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and charged in 14 complaints with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, conspiracy to harbor aliens for profit, and other offenses. All the defendants, with the exception of Yanjun Lin, will appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion in Newark federal court. Lin will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Strombom in the Western District of Washington federal court.
"'Pay to Stay' schemes not only damage our perception of legitimate student and foreign worker visa programs, they also pose a very real threat to national security," U.S. Attorney Fishman said. "Today’s arrests, which were made possible by the great undercover work of our law enforcement partners, stopped 21 brokers, recruiters and employers across multiple states who recklessly exploited our immigration system for financial gain."
"While the United States fully supports international education, we will vigorously investigate those who seek to exploit the U.S. immigration system," said ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña. "As a result of this operation, HSI special agents have successfully identified and shut down multiple operations which have abused the student visa program."
"Individuals engaged in schemes that would undermine the remarkable educational opportunities afforded to international students represent an affront to those who play by the rules. These unscrupulous individuals undermine the integrity of the immigration system," said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Terence S. Opiola. "Our special agents are committed to addressing, identifying fraud in order to better protect the system as a whole."
Read more from the Press Release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/21-defendants-charged-fraudulently-enabling-hundreds-foreign-nationals-remain-united