Thread: ICE Officials Crack Down on Miami Language School

These are scams that were used in Canada in the past. I know of several that were busted in Toronto.
The link provides a copy of the 12 page indictment.

http://cbs4.com/local/visa.students.for ... 37035.html

ICE Officials Crack Down On Miami Language School
Jasmine Kripalani
E-mail MIAMI (CBS4)

Eighty-one foreigners with student visas may soon face deportation after the school they had planned to attend did not have the proper accreditation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said in a statement.

ICE officials called their operation one of the "largest fraud takedown of a school and its purported students."

The school in question – the Florida Language Institute Inc. in Miami– has posted a sign that reads, in part, the following: "This school is no longer certified to educate foreign students. Any foreign students that need to transfer schools must contact the Duty Officer (at the Department of Homeland Security) at 305-597-2704."

They say many of the students violated the terms of their F-1 visas by accepting jobs or not showing up to class at all. They were required to attend 18 hours a week of instruction.

Instead, in a 12-page indictment, Immigration officials say the school's operator 58-year-old Lydia Menocal and employee Ofelia Macia, 75, were "pre-signing for classes, that is, signing attendance sheet for having attended classes in the future."

The students who had obtained the visas are now sitting in a Broward center in Pompano Beach that processes illegal immigrants.

Menocal and Macia face several federal charges including one count of conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the United States, one count of falsifying immigration documents and one count of making false or fraudulent statements. They also face forfeiture of their assets from the school estimated to be nearly $2.4 million, according to the indictment.

I.C.E. News Release
March 04, 2010

Owner, employee of Miami language school charged with immigration fraud

ICE special agents also administratively arrest 81 student visa violators

MIAMI - The owner/operator of a Miami-based foreign language school and one of its employees were indicted on four counts today for conspiring to commit a criminal offense against the United States, following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Miami Office of Investigations.

Miami residents Lydia Menocal, 58, the owner and director of the Florida Language Institute (FLI), and Ofelia Macia, 75, an employee of the school, are suspected of fraudulently sponsoring foreign students by issuing student status to non immigrants without requiring them to maintain a full course of study as mandated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) federal regulations. ICE investigations uncovered that only about 5 percent of FLI students attended class on any given day.

"This school was fraudulently facilitating the issuance of student visas, as well as allowing foreign nationals to fraudulently maintain their student status and remain in the United States," said Anthony V. Mangione, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Miami. "One of the lessons learned from the September 11 attacks is that the U.S. government must be vigilant and aggressive in conducting investigations into organizations and persons who seek to exploit and corrupt America's legal immigration system for personal gain."

In November 2007, ICE special agents assigned to the ICE Office of Investigations in Miami Compliance Enforcement Group initiated a criminal investigation dubbed, "Operation Class Dismissed," focused on Menocal and the FLI after they received information that the school was allegedly engaged in fraudulently sponsoring foreign students by issuing I-20 AB (Certificates of Eligibility for non-immigrant, F-1, student status for academics and language students) without requiring the students to attend at least 18 hours of classes per week, as they had agreed to do under federal regulations.

On February 26, Menocal and Macia, were indicted on charges of conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. In addition, Menocal was individually charged with making false statements on immigration documents (which allowed foreign nationals to obtain student visas), and making false statements to an executive branch agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C.§§ 1546(a) and 1001(a)(2), respectively. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $2.4 million in cash, which represents the proceeds of the criminal activity.

On March 2, ICE special agents executed arrest warrants at the defendants' home and a search warrant at the school, located at 947 S.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Fla. The defendants made their initial appearances in court the same day and U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff set bond for both defendants. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro.

If convicted, the defendants face up to five years imprisonment on the conspiracy charge, and Menocal faces up to 10 years imprisonment on the false statement charges.

In addition to the indictment, ICE conducted a three-day operation, which concluded Thursday morning, and resulted in the administrative arrests of 81 student visa violators that purported to be attending FLI from countries including Thailand, Syria, Honduras, South Korea, Japan, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Indonesia, Venezuela, Brazil and Kyrgyzstan, with the majority being from Thailand. Of those 81 arrested administratively, 39 were residing in Miami-Dade County, 27 in Broward County, nine in Palm Beach County, five in Bradenton and one resided in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Eighty individuals arrested remain in ICE custody pending immigration removal proceedings and one was processed for removal and released on her own recognizance. In these cases, ICE agents and officers exercise discretion by releasing aliens on orders of supervision.

"As we found out too late on September 11, 2001, many of those responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were foreign nationals who abused the student visa program to enter and stay in the United States illegally," said Jeffrey H. Sloman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. "In the post-September 11 world, programs that enroll foreign national students must be legitimate and comply with federal law. Failure to do so puts our community and our nation at risk. For this reason, the U.S. Attorney's Office and ICE will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws designed to ensure the integrity of the student visa program and our immigration system as a whole."

Sloman commended the investigative efforts of ICE's Office of Investigations in Miami with the assistance of ICE's Office of Detention and Removal in Miami. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roy K. Altman and Robert J. Luck.

An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/ More information on the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) can be found at: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/index.htm.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 4, 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1003/100304miami.htm

Can you imagine how many of these phony "schools" would spring up if the Dream Act passed, since one requirement is to attend a trade school or college.

Related: http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1024417.html#1024417

Florida Language Institute Inc.
947 S.W. 87 Avenue
Miami, Florida 33174
Phone: (305) 266-4761
Fax: (305) 266-2419
info@floridalanguage.com
www.floridalanguage.com

Intensive English Program
Ingles Intensivo

In this case, the students are the victims. The Florida Language Institute was listed on official Immigration websites and forms as a legitimatelanguage school. Some of the students had transferred from state colleges to the Florida Language Institute - a process which requires the first school to allow the transfer of the I-20 (Student Visa form) this means that Immigration's claim that they used this school to get into the country is not true. Not for all of them.


This means that there are young students - all of whom had already earned a Bachelors degree in their respective countries and were here to continue education at the Masters level - are now being "detained" at the Broward Transitional Center. They are basically being imprisoned for being tricked by the operators of the fraudulent school - just as Immigration was for years.


These students are not criminals. Not one of them had ANY criminal background of ANY kind. Don't be so quick to believe everything you hear on the news or from a press conference. These kids lives have been turned upside-down because of the greed and lies of the schools operators.

And just who might YOU be, claiming to know what ALL of the students knew? "Harvesting" illegal behavior? Whatever that may mean, I take it you are referring to the operators of the school. Yes, they are the criminals here - the ones who told the kids "class is cancelled, sign in and study in that room" day after day. This language school was the cheapest of all the schools in south Fl. listed on government / immigration websites. I personally know of students who chose it for that reason alone.

And I did not say that the students had Masters Degrees - if reading comprehension is not a particular strength of yours, allow me to copy/paste what I had typed so you may read it again:

"This means that there are young students - all of whom had already earned a Bachelors degree in their respective countries and were here to continue education at the Masters level - are now being "detained" at the Broward Transitional Center".

They were here to CONTINUE education at the Masters level. See, to be accepted into a MA program, they must score well enough on the TOEFL exam. This is why SOME of them were attending a language school - to improve their English, pass the TOEFL, and begin study at a Florida university at the Masters level.

You say "everyone in Miami knew" about the school? Well, genius, not all of the students were from Miami. How about the ones who had picked this one from a website because they were moving and it was the cheapest one in their new area?
And for your information, there WERE classes and tests going on at the Florida Language Institute, as some of the students from Thailand were showing up and COMPLAINING about the lack of instruction at the school. So the scumbags that ran it actually had to have someone show up and lead classes for them.

I do not know what makes you think you have the authority to state that ALL of the students knew what was going on at this school. Some of them were already here on a student Visa, and had no need for this school to issue an I-20 as a way to get into or stay in this country. Some of them chose this school because it was the cheapest one around, and are now in the same situation as the ones who actually DID use the school as a way to gain entry to the U.S. with relative ease. I.C.E. should be looking at this on a case-by-case basis - not assuming that everyone was in on it. THis school was open to everyone as a certified English institute- What were the scam-artist owners going to do when a new student walked in, unaware of the fraud going on... turn them and there money away? I DON'T THINK SO.

These students are not criminals. Not one of them had ANY criminal background of ANY kind. Don't be so quick to believe everything you hear on the news or from a press conference. These kids lives have been turned upside-down because of the greed and lies of the schools operators.

Really? ICE seems to have a different opinion. Then are you accusing ICE of making false arrests? Sounds like you're taking this personal. How are you connected with this school and/or students?

Welcome to ALIPAC

Originally Posted by Mwalker7060

In this case, the students are the victims. The Florida Language Institute was listed on official Immigration websites and forms as a legitimatelanguage school. Some of the students had transferred from state colleges to the Florida Language Institute - a process which requires the first school to allow the transfer of the I-20 (Student Visa form) this means that Immigration's claim that they used this school to get into the country is not true. Not for all of them.


This means that there are young students - all of whom had already earned a Bachelors degree in their respective countries and were here to continue education at the Masters level - are now being "detained" at the Broward Transitional Center. They are basically being imprisoned for being tricked by the operators of the fraudulent school - just as Immigration was for years.


These students are not criminals. Not one of them had ANY criminal background of ANY kind. Don't be so quick to believe everything you hear on the news or from a press conference. These kids lives have been turned upside-down because of the greed and lies of the schools operators.

And just who might YOU be, claiming to know what ALL of the students knew? "Harvesting" illegal behavior? Whatever that may mean, I take it you are referring to the operators of the school. Yes, they are the criminals here - the ones who told the kids "class is cancelled, sign in and study in that room" day after day. This language school was the cheapest of all the schools in south Fl. listed on government / immigration websites. I personally know of students who chose it for that reason alone.

And I did not say that the students had Masters Degrees - if reading comprehension is not a particular strength of yours, allow me to copy/paste what I had typed so you may read it again:

"This means that there are young students - all of whom had already earned a Bachelors degree in their respective countries and were here to continue education at the Masters level - are now being "detained" at the Broward Transitional Center".

They were here to CONTINUE education at the Masters level. See, to be accepted into a MA program, they must score well enough on the TOEFL exam. This is why SOME of them were attending a language school - to improve their English, pass the TOEFL, and begin study at a Florida university at the Masters level.

You say "everyone in Miami knew" about the school? Well, genius, not all of the students were from Miami. How about the ones who had picked this one from a website because they were moving and it was the cheapest one in their new area?
And for your information, there WERE classes and tests going on at the Florida Language Institute, as some of the students from Thailand were showing up and COMPLAINING about the lack of instruction at the school. So the scumbags that ran it actually had to have someone show up and lead classes for them.

I do not know what makes you think you have the authority to state that ALL of the students knew what was going on at this school. Some of them were already here on a student Visa, and had no need for this school to issue an I-20 as a way to get into or stay in this country. Some of them chose this school because it was the cheapest one around, and are now in the same situation as the ones who actually DID use the school as a way to gain entry to the U.S. with relative ease. I.C.E. should be looking at this on a case-by-case basis - not assuming that everyone was in on it. THis school was open to everyone as a certified English institute- What were the scam-artist owners going to do when a new student walked in, unaware of the fraud going on... turn them and there money away? I DON'T THINK SO.

Do you have any evidence to prove what you have stated in your post ?

Seems very strange to me when the students were living in FIVE different counties and Bradenton is a looong way from Miami/FLI.

Think I'll believe ICE on this one.

I have a hard time believing that they are all innocent. When I lived in the Toronto area they had schools like that which were scams. Police and immigration raided many of them . Most of those students were Asians and when interviewed some came out and said they new from the start. Do you think if they were deported and people in the towns and villages wouldn't hear about it. If are suppose to go to school and are working illegally you don't know?