ICE Has Benefits Fraud Units in Service Centers
Posted Mar 12, 2004

Michael Doughtery, Director of Operations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), testified before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims on February 25, 2004. In his prepared statement, he mentioned that ICE has Benefits Fraud Units at the USCIS Service Centers in Vermont, Texas, and California. These units focus on identifying and targeting the most significant and repetitive fraud violators for prosecution. This may include notarios, other "immigration specialists," employers, and even attorneys, if any of these people commonly assist individuals to develop what is perceived to be fraudulent documentation.

Though the focus is on larger organizations or institutions, individuals should be aware of these units. If an applicant is represented by one of the unit's targets, the applicant's case may be significantly delayed or denied, and the applicant's credibility may be called into question. An individual is usually deemed to be held liable for the actions an agent takes on his or her behalf. Therefore, if the agent is considered guilty of fraud on a case, the applicant may also be considered guilty of fraud. As regular MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers know, an individual who is found to have committed fraud to obtain an immigration benefit may be removed from the U.S. and permanently barred from reentry.

We encourage our readers to think carefully about their representation. If a solution seems too good to be true, it probably is. Anyone offering to fabricate documents to facilitate the process should be avoided at all costs. Anyone condoning or suggesting the use of fabricated documents, similarly, should be avoided. Information and documentation needs to be truthful and accurate. Forms should never be signed without full review. In this age of increased security and enforcement, accuracy and precision are even more important than before.