Thread: I.C.E. arrest 13 for marriage fraud scam

December 22, 2008

ICE arrests 13 for roles in marriage fraud scam

Operation yields 8 criminal and 5 administrative arrests

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 13 individuals on marriage fraud-related charges. U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodriguez and ICE Special Agent in Charge Manuel Oyola Torres announced the arrest today in San Juan.

The indictments charged U.S. Citizen Lydia Josefina Garcia-Rios, 43, and Marcos Antonio Melendez-Garcia, 47, of Peru; U.S. citizen, Jose Miguel Delgado-Ortega, 41, and Gaby M. Yamamoto-Mejia, 43, of Peru; U.S. citizen Jorge Higgs-Gaetan, 41, and Estela Stakun-Del Negro, 47, of Argentina; and U.S. citizen Maria de Lourdes Rosa-Fernandez, 27, and Ricardo Javier Fresneda, 30, of Argentina, with willfully and unlawfully entering into marriage for the purpose of circumventing the immigration laws of the United States. All were in violation of Title 8, United States Code (USC), Section 1325(c) and Title 18, USC Section 2.

The arrests all took place in the San Juan metropolitan area with the exception of Jorge Higgs-Gaetan's and Maria de Lourdes Rosa-Fernandez's who were arrested in Caguas, Puerto Rico and New Jersey, respectively.

"This case highlights ICE's commitment to working with other law enforcement partners to protect both the integrity of our immigration system and our national security," said Manuel Oyola Torres, ICE special agent-in-charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Puerto Rico. "Marriage fraud poses a serious threat to national security and public safety. These schemes create a vulnerability that may enable terrorists, criminals and illegal aliens to gain entry to and remain in the United States. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that these criminals are brought to justice."

Marriage fraud is punishable by up to five years imprisonment. Aliens charged with this crime face deportation from the United States.

Initial appearances for those arrested in Puerto Rico were held this afternoon in U.S. District Court.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Eugenio A. Lomba.

Defendants are presumed innocent until and when proven guilty.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Last Modified: Monday, December 22, 2008
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0812/081222sanjuan.htm

Please keep mailing ICE and CBP news releases to your Senators.

"Marriage fraud poses a serious threat to national security and public safety. These schemes create a vulnerability that may enable terrorists, criminals and illegal aliens to gain entry to and remain in the United States. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that these criminals are brought to justice."

Ya think? Now add drop a baby on American soil and cry about seperating the family and you have another equally serious threat to national security and public safety especially when many have left no one to wonder what their intent is......we will breed you out, we will be the majority and you will answer to us. There hasn't been any confused messages given, but that avenue is ignored as well.

Not to mention wasn't this the beginning of marraige licenses here? If a slave married a free person, they were then free?

Yeah and just think of how much fraud will occur if Gay marriage passes!!!!

Yeah and just think of how much fraud will occur if Gay marriage passes!!!!

LOL and before long multiple spouses coz we can't mess with a "culture".