Massive corruption in US immigration services
posted at 8:52 am on August 15, 2007 by Bryan
I’m still trying to get my mind around the full scope of this problem, uncovered by the Washington Times’ Sara Carter. But on a first reading it strikes me as very significant.
A criminal investigations report says several U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employees are accused of aiding Islamic extremists with identification fraud and of exploiting the visa system for personal gain.
The confidential 2006 USCIS report said that despite the severity of the potential security breaches, most are not investigated “due to lack of resources” in the agency’s internal affairs department.
“Two District Adjudications Officers are allegedly involved with known (redacted) Islam terrorist members,” said the internal document obtained by The Washington Times.
The group “was responsible for numerous robberies and used the heist money to fund terrorist activities. The District Adjudications Officers made numerous DHS database queries to track (Alien)-File movement and check on the applicants’ status for (redacted) members and associates.”
According to the document, other potential security failures include reports that:
Employees are sharing detailed information on internal security measures with people outside the agency.
A Lebanese citizen bribed an immigration officer with airline tickets for visa benefits.
A USCIS officer in Harlington, Texas, sold immigration documents for $10,000 to as many as 20 people.
There’s a second page to the story, with a little crossfire between a USCIS employee who says that some of the accusations are three years old and haven’t been looked into, and USCIS officials tossing out the bureaucratic line that they take all accusations against their agents and employees very seriously and are investigating them all.
Right.
Forgive my cynicism, but when the boss of USCIS is the Department of Homeland Security, and when its boss is Michael Chertoff, who is on record promoting shamnesty and regretting that its failure means that he’ll actually have to make a show of enforcing immigration law without “destroying the border in order to save it” (whatever that means), it just doesn’t seem like USCIS’ priority is going to be sniffing out and prosecuting internal corruption. Border security has rotted from the head down.
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I’m shocked!
Not really. Nothting about immigration surprises me any longer.
madmonkphotog on August 15, 2007 at 8:56 AM
The immigration situation as gone much farther than out of control. The consequences could get much more severe if our government refuses to acknowledge there is a problem. Where is Homeland Security? Although Bush’s record has been abysmal protecting the borders, the dimocrats only promise to make it worse in their quest to seize the illegal vote in hopes of becoming a one party system.
volsense on August 15, 2007 at 9:00 AM
Next thing you know, they’ll be telling us that it’s cold in Alaska.
HockeyTemper on August 15, 2007 at 9:06 AM
At DFW I was nearly always screened by women wearing those headwrap things (forgot the name of those things). Now you tell me where YOU think their loyalty lies??!!!
My security from Islamists being handled by ISLAMISTS??!!!
IN TEXAS!! WHAT THE HEL*!??
Dear Lord, Won’t some Repub have the courage to call for PROFILING??!!
Ex-tex on August 15, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Ughhh.
petefrt on August 15, 2007 at 9:08 AM
Bingo.
BillLalor on August 15, 2007 at 9:12 AM
So my Russian Mother in law was right when she wanted to slip the immigration officer a few Rubles? I told her it wasn’t the American way. Guess I was wrong.
Bill C on August 15, 2007 at 9:14 AM
Can an USCIS employee be transferred to IED clearing in Baghdad?
TunaTalon on August 15, 2007 at 9:15 AM
They broke their sworn oath to their country. Why can’t we put them on trial for treason? I wonder if it is because treason has become the new patriotism in certain circles.
jman on August 15, 2007 at 9:18 AM
Say it ain’t so, Corruption in a government agency!
INCONCEIVABLE!
Terrorist coming to our shore!
INCONCEIVABLE!
Michael Chertoff is incompetent!
INCONCEIVABLE!
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
TheSitRep on August 15, 2007 at 9:26 AM
They had better border security in Floren. :|
PatrickS on August 15, 2007 at 9:31 AM
I’m Shocked. Shocked I tell you.
msflea on August 15, 2007 at 9:34 AM
There is no border security. There will be no border security until an American city is vaporized by the enemy who crosses said border on a regular basis. Americans are an ignorant lot.
Griz on August 15, 2007 at 9:35 AM
But…but…Chertoff said he doesn’t have the “tools” necessary to…oh shit! I’m so sick of this administration and it’s bumblings! I’m also sick of people in the press that keep covering up for them like FOX News!
sabbott on August 15, 2007 at 9:35 AM
I am torn between three answers for our government’s reluctance to seriously address illegal immigration.
1. They are ALL so far in the pocket of big business that our representitive democracy is already doomed.
2. Our government knows something about America’s immediate future that they’re not sharing with the public and for which the need of slave labor is essential.
3. Their heads are so securely planted up their political rear ends that that national security no longer registers or matters in their career pursuit.
Regardless of which it is. I think it’s time for a thorough house cleaning and a serious revisit of term limits (sure).
Ernest on August 15, 2007 at 9:43 AM
Where’s all of that congressional oversight we’re supposed to be getting?
I want to see Chertoff in front of an investigative committee, then fired.
AZCON on August 15, 2007 at 9:59 AM
What this current administration is doing is ruining borders on all sides. Yes, all sides. Remember the Dubai Port fiasco? I guess all this talk about the NAU doesn’t seem so nutty anymore. And I am moving closer to voting for Ron Paul. I’ll even change my party affiliation from “No Party” to “Republican” just to vote for him.
mram on August 15, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Sara Carter is GREAT!! Until recently she was with the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in So. Calif.(may now be with both papers???), and winner of the 2006 Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in Coverage of Immigration the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Immigration Studies.
See her recent article on terrorists and drug cartels:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070808/NATION/108080088/1001
I have a link to her previous stories at IVDB at
http://www.jmi.com/immigrationmarches
Michelle: recruit her for your efforts??
fred5678 on August 15, 2007 at 10:08 AM
I agree with fred5678, you ought to develop a relationship with Sara Carter.
And Bryan, as always, great post.
realVerse on August 15, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Now let’s elect a Dhimmicrat and put Govt in charge of everything.
Montana on August 15, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Michael Chertoff is a traitor. He should be put in jail for dereliction of duty. The effects of illegal immigration are growing more evident everyday, and that bonehead plays the fiddle.
saiga on August 15, 2007 at 10:26 AM
It’s a crazy world we live in. Our biggest enemy may well be our own Government. If we couldn’t (wouldn’t) fix immigration after 9/11 then what hope is there that we will fix it now? The horse is already out of the barn. The jihadists are exploiting our own stupidity daily. How many are showing up via bribery and/or by sneaking across our borders? Answer: No one knows because we aren’t even trying, it seems. We are making their plotting and planning way too easy. I’m afraid we will only wake up when it’s too late. The whole thing is mind-boggling, like a Twilight Zone episode.
Ordinary1 on August 15, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Of course, it was handled by ROUS
…and it becomes open season on open borders advocates.
urbancenturion on August 15, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Geraldo must be the department head. It’s just so odd that any government agency could be so corrupt and inefficient.
~disgusted sarcasm off
locomotivebreath1901 on August 15, 2007 at 10:32 AM
I can’t put into words my disgust with Chertoff.
Zetterson on August 15, 2007 at 10:33 AM
BTW, Chertoff is there because of the man who put him there. Rotted from the head down, indeed.
urbancenturion on August 15, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Ernest on August 15, 2007 at 9:43 AM
The problem is that the US is turning into a population of people with the mentality of 10 year old girls. Most Americans have no idea of the threat to our way of life the illegal invasion represents. And, few have the balls to step up and administer the “tough love” the illegal immigration problem requires. The politicians are milk toast because they are afraid to bruse the feelings of ideots and illegals alike.
saiga on August 15, 2007 at 10:36 AM
Yeah well our government seems choked with Rodents Of Unusual Size and it isn’t helping us any.
PatrickS on August 15, 2007 at 10:52 AM
You have to protect yourself in this great country, the gov just wont do it.
Viper1 on August 15, 2007 at 10:56 AM
oh you scare the crap out of me… I’m putting my head back in the sand… I felt better yesterday when I didn’t know this…
Chertoff should be fired!
this should’ve been public a long time ago.
Kaptain Amerika on August 15, 2007 at 11:08 AM
This is another failure of imagination.
Just like most Americans going about their daily business, Homeland Security failed to think of and act upon internal problems.
Those problems obviously include a hiring process easily penetrated by persons unscrupulous or dedicated to processing in aliens with evil intent.
Our immigration system has purposely been subverted to allow as many aliens at all costs for many years now and that is a top down issue.
A moratorium on immigration sounds like a great idea and would provide a real imputes to building a system that works.
Speakup on August 15, 2007 at 11:21 AM
I hope you checked to make sure the Boss’s blood pressure medication was up to date. Or is it more like SameS***DifferentDay?
eeyore on August 15, 2007 at 11:25 AM
It’s time to start hanging some people. This is absolutely ridiculous.
Bush can have no credibility on border security as long as Chertoff still has a job.
thirteen28 on August 15, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Well, Bush’s ‘homeless looking man’ – Chertjerk- has done it again. At least he’s consistently evil on everything he does. I wonder if he’s laughing at this situation like he did Katrina. Will the terrorists blow up D.C. and large cities only, leaving the rest of us safe in smaller communities? I guess we’ll see.
countywolf on August 15, 2007 at 11:59 AM
It’s not just Bush…it’s been going on since Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush! Nobody wants to deal with this issue and nobody will explain to the American people why! Chertoff’s biggest contribution to America is that we all have to take our shoes off to fly and we are herded through lines at airports and searched like common crmininals because islamic terrorists want to blow us up! He’s a moron and we let them get by with this assault on our freedoms in the name of “the war on terror”… Newt is right!
sabbott on August 15, 2007 at 11:59 AM
What is worse is that no one will be prosecuted for this. I’m sure everyone still has their jobs too.
Chertoff needs to be fired.
moonsbreath on August 15, 2007 at 12:00 PM
As the old saying goes, sh!t rolls downhill. I doubt there is anything under the DHS umbrella that isn’t rotten.
infidel4life on August 15, 2007 at 12:05 PM
They will all receive The Presidential Medal of Freedom for their efforts!
Alden Pyle on August 15, 2007 at 12:08 PM
And here I thought that government was the answer to all our problems.
Mojave Mark on August 15, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Don’t worry, y’all. Tropical Storm Erin is headed my way. She’ll clear things out and just maybe it’ll drive the illegals back down to Meh-he-co!
pullingmyhairout on August 15, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Al Anbar may well be safer then Manhattan in another year. The most important single task of any government must be the security of its citizens and today after reading this I don’t feel so secure.
Border agents being prosecuted left and right, immigration officials on the take, and the rest of Homeland Security unwilling to enforce our laws is all begining to feel like deja vu, except we don’t have to monitor overseas activity much since it is probably now well entrenched here. I wouldn’t be a bit damned surprise to find out that Adam Gadahn is making all of his videos in the basement of his parents house.
LakeRuins on August 15, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Sooo, we won’t let the Arabs run our ports, but they can do as they please with the INS?
Do I get a discount, as an American taxpayer, if I throw in the towel and buy an Arabic language program and a paperback Koran?!
thejackal on August 15, 2007 at 1:05 PM
Excellent information.
MarkB on August 15, 2007 at 1:13 PM
I want to know how it is Bush is upholding his oath of office and protecting the citizens of America when our boarders are wide open as illegals are facilitated ? He should be impeached but not for the reasons the democraps say.
oldernslower on August 15, 2007 at 1:41 PM
If you think that gets you mad let me tell you my story. I married a Canadian citizen 3 years ago; she is originally from the Philippines. We have one daughter and another on the way in December. We started the paperwork 2 years ago to get her a permanent residency which is the first step to US citizenship. We took off 2 days of work to travel out of town for a physical. 1 day to travel to New Orleans for biometric testing (finger prints). We used an immigration service to handle all the extensive paperwork and paid all the fees through them. My wife and I have traveled extensively out of the country before and after we married. Once we applied for her residency every time we reentered the country we were taken out of the immigration line and placed in a room for over an hour (just long enough to miss your connecting flight) while they reviewed her papers. Finally our big day arrived in April we were to meet with an immigration officer in New Orleans for her hearing. I cancel 75 patients to travel with her; 2 days before our scheduled meeting they moved her interview to July. In July we traveled to N.O. to meet with immigration officials. We were excited because we had a trip planned to Mexico and realized we should no longer be detained while traveling. We met with an obviously overworked, underpaid, and higher than mighty (in his mind) government employee. He looked at my wife’s passport and then at our I485 travel document. The document was applied for to allow us to travel during the application process. He quiet casually informed us that he was denying our application because we traveled outside of the US on 3 occasions before we actually got the travel document in hand. I know ignorance is no excuse for anything but we applied for the travel document without knowing we had to have it in hand to travel. We had been traveling for 2 years together and did not know the document was needed, only that we needed to have applied for it. He then informed me that if we traveled to Mexico the following week my wife would not be allowed back into the country. I finally was allowed to speak to his supervisor and she said we broke the law and our application was voided. She said she could overlook one of the trips but not all three; therefore she had discretion but chose to support her subordinate’s decision. We drove home utterly disappointed. I called my US congressman and after many conversations he was told we had admitted to breaking the law and our application had to be redone in total. I was then given a 30 page document about our application process. In a very small paragraph on the 15th page it was written that travel was forbidden during the application process and to do so would terminate your application. We honestly were never told this. We got the denial letter in the mail which also informed us that my wife had 90 days to leave the country, she is currently being deported. We have since spent the money to reapply and are awaiting a travel document so that my wife can visit her sick mother in Toronto. Not melodramatic just facts. We also hired an immigration attorney but that is another story. We are hoping to hear something before her 90 day deadline or we will be in violation once again and will never get approved. Big question I asked. How does one just go back to being a Canadian citizen able to freely travel? The answer I got was you can’t. Once you apply to become an American citizen you either complete the process or you are deported. This has been a huge eye opener for us. To become a citizen legally it is very time consuming and expensive to say the least. Marrying an American tax paying citizen (who also served honorable in the US Army) does not in any shape or form make you a citizen in the US. It retrospect it would have been easier to jump the Rio, pay a 2000 fine and get amnesty. Rules are made by someone even though they can’t tell you why they in place or what they are for. Sorry for the long story but it was cathartic to write.
riccangolf on August 15, 2007 at 1:47 PM
Let’s see, an inforcement agency that no one in power cares about, looks into, or has set up any kind of oversite for years . . .and it’s corrupt? Say it ain’t so!
- The Cat
P.S. The next thing you’ll tell me is that international news agencies are faking pictures.
MirCat on August 15, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Old news – Homeland INsecurity has been giving terrorists (CAIR) guided tours of our airport security for *years*.
JerkChertoff needs to be fired. And so should Bush for putting him in that position in the first place. He (Chertoff) couldn’t find his ass with both hands, an map and a GPS device.riccangolf – I’m sorry to hear your story. Me and my wife also had to go through much the process (she’s from the Philippines) 5 years ago. We were lucky and were able to bring her over on a Fiancee visa (it was still a nightmare). Delays, outright lies, etc…
My advise is to look up some of the marriage visa web sites (http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm is one) and look up the process. Don’t depend on the INS documents. I had one INS person (at the Seattle office) tell me I had to file our ‘Adjustment Of Status’ papers in Nebraska – I knew from the various sites and peoples stories that it was totally wrong and ignored him.
All in all I think we were damn lucky since we squeezed thru before Homeland [IN]security took over.
Funny how you (an American Citizen) can get reamed for not dotting all the i’s but an invading foreigner who breaks the law gets flagged thru with no problems at all…
CrazyFool on August 15, 2007 at 2:40 PM
This situation is totally unacceptable. The U.S. Government is becoming as much our enemy as the Jihadists are.
infidel4life on August 15, 2007 at 2:53 PM
riccangolf – I’m sorry to hear your story. Me and my wife also had to go through much the process (she’s from the Philippines) 5 years ago. We were lucky and were able to bring her over on a Fiancee visa (it was still a nightmare). Delays, outright lies, etc…
Thanks, we are fighting the good fight. I wish I had been more involved with the process but I probably would have still made the mistake of traveling. I spoke to both my US Rep and Senator but could not get any help. I would have thought they had more influence. These people in New Orleans seem to have no boss or higher authority.
riccangolf on August 15, 2007 at 2:55 PM
infidel4life on August 15, 2007 at 2:53 PM
I was treated like a criminal from the moment I walked in with my wife who is 5 months pregnant by the way. We walked into this guys office and his first words to me were “don’t touch my desk, don’t put your paperwork on my desk and keep your hands on your side” talk about a rude welcoming. We supplied this guy with an inch thick of paperwork including photos of our famiy, wedding and honeymoon. He looked at everything before denying us. When I got upset about having ot reapply and send in all the fees again (around 2000.00) he replied “I saw your tax return, you should be OK” that is when I really wanted to hit the bastard. My wife was sobing hysterically, not a great moment in our lives to date.
riccangolf on August 15, 2007 at 3:01 PM
“Massive corruption in US immigration services” DUH.
…”despite the severity of the potential security breaches, most are not investigated “due to lack of resources”…this is the answer that we cannot allow to stand. For those of you who live in a sanctuary cities, email and call you local officials and demand that they end that status and start enforcing the law!
Things are reaching critical mass here in san Diego County and many other places. It is known that terrorist cells from south America up to Mexico (as well as the ME) are using drug money to fund their ‘operations’. MS13 is demanding legal status…If they’re organizing and mobilizing we have to get organized with plans to deal with this mess. Now that they know the majority of Americans don’t want amnesty, they will pull out the stops.
I just heard about a Chavez supporter who is trying to silence right wing radio hosts. They have the audacity to come here, spit on our country and demand that our free speech be taken from us. It’s time for us to demand more from our gov’t and ourselves.
Christine on August 15, 2007 at 3:20 PM
It appears that the U.S. uses the same government model as does Mexico: Rampant Corruption.
As a conservative, I’m getting sort of sick of GW Bush. These illegal-entry problems are mostly Executive (unless the Congress has refused to properly fund Homeland Security, which I haven’t heard).
I will admit that part of the problem is the protracted legal process required to address irregularities when they’re found. THAT could be addressed by the Legislature.
jaime on August 15, 2007 at 3:36 PM
Bush and Chertoff: couldn’t get a clue if they lived on a clue farm and clues were in season.
jaime on August 15, 2007 at 3:39 PM
If Michael Chertoff is unable to clean up his agency, then he deserves to be fired and his government pension canceled.
Where is the FBI and the US Attorney in this story?
georgej on August 15, 2007 at 4:04 PM
The execution-style triple murder in Newark, N.J. led by two illegal aliens only highlights a rampage by invaders who are killing Americans at 10 times the rate as terrorists in Iraq. Unfortunately there is corruption at all levels of government as well as the incompetence that allowed these sickos into the country in the first place compounded by an incompetent judicial system that allowed bail for a monster (who directed the triple murder) who orally, vaginally and anally raped a 5 YEAR OLD girl 31 TIMES.(What do you have to do to attract attention in NJ, nuke Trenton?)
The ultimate responsibility for this immigration mess rests with the individual who could stop it but won’t–George Bush.
MaiDee on August 15, 2007 at 4:23 PM
How nice knowing our tax dollars are paying the salary of that heartless bastard. May God bless your efforts towards your wife’s citizenship.
infidel4life on August 15, 2007 at 4:33 PM
I’m a conservative but if the Democrats decided to start impeachment proceedings against Bush based on his inability to protect our nation against all enemies foreign and domestic (border security) I would not object!
sabbott on August 15, 2007 at 5:33 PM
If you think what Bryan wrote about is bad, you need to go over to Debbie Schlussel’s website and read about the director of the port in San Diego, Daphiney Cagannap, that took thousands in bribes and was never arrested for betraying her country.
“She took thousands in bribes to allow drugs and human cargo to be smuggled into the U.S. She stood to do–and should have done–36 years in prison. Instead, she got probation. She did not even have to return the cash, hot tub, or work on a Mercedes–all of which she took to betray our country . . . her country. And she was never even arrested.”
Debbie has been on this issue for a long time. She goes into great detail about two other ICE agents that should make all of you sick.
When you finish reading Debbie’s article, I urge you to contact your elected representatives and ask how it is possible to betray the American people,steal,bribe, and commit treason, while working for ICE and not be prosecuted.
ScottyDog on August 15, 2007 at 6:00 PM
Thats disgusting. Lets bury ourselves in paperwork and ignore the actual problem. It actually reminds me of the book/movie “A Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy” except it isnt funny when it is real.
Resolute on August 15, 2007 at 7:22 PM
Don’t forget ‘Visa Express’ which would grant visa’s to terrorists without even a questionaire or interview. The idiot who conceived that was given a big fat bonus and promotion for aiding and abiding in the murder of 3,000 Americans on 9/11.
As I recall it took a public outcry to end that stupid program.
Personally, and this is my opinion, I think these people who betray our country by accepting bribes from terrorists should be taken out and shot -dead-. Call it that old fashioned idea called ‘accountability’….
Good luck riccangolf with your campaign. I found out that Senators and Congresscritters don’t have much influence with the inner workings (and that’s probably for the good if you think of it… Think the kind of people Kennedy, Kerry, Edwards or Peloski would sell their influence too…).
CrazyFool on August 15, 2007 at 7:38 PM
Our government is selling us out to the highest bidder. Damn you Bush and Chertoff!! Time to take back our country!!
build the wall on August 15, 2007 at 9:17 PM
What continues to amaze me is that Bush nearly doubled the fees for people who want to come here legally and be Americans but preaches, along with his toadies, that illegals have some ownership in this nation. Guess it shouldn’t surprise me, business wants near slave wage labor to maximize their profits and those here legally won’t work for those low wages.
Buzzy on August 15, 2007 at 9:30 PM
CrazyFool-
Shot or hanged. Whichever one involves the least amount of paperwork.
riccangolf-
(Paragraphs would help the reader appreciate your story more.)
Keep plugging bro!
profitsbeard on August 16, 2007 at 2:28 AM
This is getting NOWHERE the attention it deserves.
Unbelievable.
SilverStar830 on August 16, 2007 at 4:58 AM
CrazyFool-
thanks for the advice on paragraphs. yeah i had a difficult time reading my own blog. i seldom chime in but will let the page know how things turn out.
riccangolf on August 16, 2007 at 8:51 AM
Sorry riccangolf it was profitsbeard who mentioned paragraphs.
I learned not to pick at other’s writings — mine being so bad and all….:)
CrazyFool on August 16, 2007 at 8:58 AM
Un-f***in believable, riccangolf.
This business of harassing legal immigrants just gets worse and worse by the year.
The only “comprehensive” bill I ever want to see – ever – is one that addresses BOTH the border AND the treatment of existing legal immigrants (and their American family members).
RD on August 17, 2007 at 7:48 PM
I don’t want to take anything away from the urgency of the Americans’ cleaning out their immigration “service.” However, one way to reduce the corruption of a thing is to reform the thing itself, while another is to remove the causes of the corruption. If the Americans have more children, their various factions won’t desire so many immigrants, and immigration will become more easily governed in every respect. And if the Americans take away or destroy the wealth of their enemies in the Dar al-Islam, their enemies won’t be able to bribe their way in. Point solutions such as attempting to reform the USCIS will probably help in the meantime.
Kralizec on August 18, 2007 at 1:31 PM
I don’t find it surprising at all. I mean, when their own bosses (Bush and Chertoff) clearly don’t want them doing their job, is it really surrpising that they don’t?
Lancer on August 19, 2007 at 12:47 AM
Benedict Arnold: We owe you an apology.
saved on August 19, 2007 at 9:34 PM