Thread: Money in exchange for U.S. citizenship?

Money in exchange for U.S. citizenship?
Two immigration agents accused of approving immigrations applications for money

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?secti ... id=4699527

WABC By N.J. Burkett

(Lower Manhattan - WABC, October 26, 2006) - Two U.S. immigration agents are under arrest and charged with nine other individuals, for taking bribes in exchange for citizenships for dozens of ineligible illegal immigrants.

The ringleader is identified by authorities as 54-year-old Jimmie Ortega of Lindenhurst, Long Island. He is a former former Supervisory District Adjudications Officer with the naturalization unit of the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services in New York.

Ortega retired from his position in April and is under arrest along with his former subordinate, Oscar Fabregas, of The Bronx.The men are accused of using a network of at least nine alien-brokers who were paid finder's fees for recruiting candidates for citizenship.

According to police, Ortega is charged with one count of conspiracy; four counts of soliciting bribes; and eight counts of procuring or attempting to procure naturalization unlawfully.

If convicted, Ortega, of Lindenhurst, faces a maximum sentence of 145 years' imprisonment.

The illegal aliens allegedly paid anywhere from $1500 to $4,000 directly to Ortega and Fabregas and were naturalized.

Officials say the cash payments allegedly allowed the aliens to avoid their mandatory INS interviews where they would have been expected to demonstrate proficiency in English. Prosecutors say Ortega and Fabregas also gave them passing grades for Civics and U.S. History exams that the aliens never actually took.

At a news conference, the FBI's Special Agent-in-Charge, Andy Arena, said "dozens of illegal aliens" were falsely naturalized. But, he said, the investigation has shown that none is deemed a security risk.

"This case exposes a naturalization supervisor who is charged with taking money to provide citizenship to ineligible aliens, and naturalization employees who are charged with assisting him, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said. "This kind of corruption does a serious disservice to the thousands of honest CIS employees and to all those immigrants who follow the rules in attempting to obtain the benefits of citizenship."

At a news conference, the FBI's Special Agent-in-Charge, Andy Arena, said "dozens of illegal aliens" were falsely naturalized. But, he said, the investigation has shown that none is deemed a security risk.

Revoke their citizenship and throw them out! I'm sick of the corruption that is being imported with the illegal aliens.

Dixie

Why wouldn't they revoke citizenship that was gained by fraud?? This just burns me up!!!

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http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=45118

Ex-immigration official pleads guilty to selling US citizenship

Fri Jul 20, 6:06 PM ET



A former US immigration official pleaded guilty Friday to taking tens of thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for awarding US citizenship to people who did not want to sit required tests.

Jimmie Ortega, 59, worked as an adjudications officer with the naturalization unit of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services in New York until April last year.

According to prosecutors, he took between 1,500 and 4,000 dollars to approve citizenship for people who wanted to bypass requirements that they sit an English proficiency and American history test and undergo an interview.

Prosecutors said Ortega had solicited bribes from at least 20 people. He faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in October.

Five of Ortega's co-defendants pleaded guilty to unlawfully procuring naturalization and were awaiting sentencing. Their nationalities were not revealed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070720/ts ... 0720220627