U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), with support from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI, has conducted “Operation Twin Shield” in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, reportedly uncovering widespread immigration fraud. Investigators reported that nearly half of those interviewed committed violations, including marriage fraud and visa overstays. The operation has involved visits to around 1,000 homes to identify and address the issues.
USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow reported evidence of fraud, non-compliance, or safety concerns in 275 cases. He noted the Twin Cities has become a hub for suspected immigration manipulation, especially within the Somali community.
Edlow said, “Officers encountered blatant marriage fraud, visa overstay, people claiming to work as businesses that can’t be found, forged documents, abuse of the H1B visa system, abuse of the F1 visa, and many other discrepancies.”…