Immigration Fraud Investigation leads to Bust by FBI on East Broadway
This image has been archived or removed.
[Photo: @Nore2NV]According to the AP, the FBI says agents have made several arrests in an immigration fraud investigation in New York City. The arrests came as agents searched law offices in Chinatown on Tuesday. Federal prosecutors were expected to charge more than two dozen people, including immigration lawyers. The alleged fraud involved immigrants seeking asylum in the United States.
The schemes alleged in today’s Indictments involved the submission of hundreds of fraudulent asylum applications on behalf of Chinese aliens by law firms in the Chinatown area of Manhattan and Queens. The defendants – lawyers and employees at 10 different law firms and their co-conspirators – including translators who work at an asylum office, profited by creating and submitting asylum applications containing false stories of persecution purportedly suffered by alien applicants. The defendants who worked at the law firms also provided the asylum applicants with educational materials related to their fabricated claims and coached the applicants to lie in their interviews with immigration authorities.
To perpetuate these schemes, the law firms made up stories of persecution that often followed one of three fact patterns: (a) forced abortions performed pursuant to China’s family planning policy; (b) persecution based on the client’s belief in Christianity; or (c) political or ideological persecution, typically for membership in China’s Democratic Party or against followers of Falun Gong.
The full announcement can be found here.
The Lo-Down is reporting that FBI agents as well as NYPD officers were stationed outside 2 East Broadway (near Bowery) and 11 East Broadway, the HSBC building at Catherine Street, this afternoon. A short time ago, a man was led from the building as agents continue to search offices (see lead photo).
This image has been archived or removed.
[Photo: Denia Aponte]
Recent Stories
After Chinatown Protests, ‘Dogman’ Sculpture Headed to Foley Square
The so-called “Dogman” fled Kimlau Square with the proverbial tail between its legs. When the Lunar Year of the Dog arrived back in February, controversy reached Chinatown with the proposed placement of a 900-pound anthropomorphic canine statue in a suit holding a red apple. Australian artists Gillie and Marc Shattner titled this seated, good-luck hound, […]
Lower East Side History Month Kicks Off Next Week
It’s just about time for Lower East Side History Month festivities to commence in May. As in the past four years, a month-long series of celebrations is in the works to highlight the rich and diverse history of the neighborhood. An array of folks comprised of cultural and community groups, small businesses, and residents have […]
Una Pizza Napoletano Marks the spot Ahead of Orchard Street Opening
Pizza maestro Anthony Mangieri officially returns to the city next week with his trendy Una Pizza Napolitano. For this third go-round, the restaurant has chosen the Lower East Side. Bright red neon lettering now illuminates the entrance of 175 Orchard Street ahead of the Monday opening (April 30). Upon debut, the 72-seat Una Pizza Napoletana […]
Police Seek Suspect who Punched out 84-Year-Old Chinese Man on East Broadway
The 7th Precinct is seeking public assistance in locating a perp who assaulted an 84-year-old Chinese man near 124 East Broadway Tuesday morning. According to cops, the victim had been sitting on the bench outside the Nana bodega on Tuesday morning at around 10:30am, when the assailant punched him in the face. He was later […]
Sounds of the Lower East Side, Circa 1934 [VIDEO]
Back in February, we posted a compelling, decades-old video of life in the Big Apple during 1929. The best part about this original footage was the authentic audio track paired to it. Now, the video editor behind that clip (alias Guy Jones) has struck again with a new video of Lower East Side living in […]
