Posted on 09/05/2002 4:20:25 AM PDT by Bolivar
Immigration Fraud Probe Nets 14 Suspects
Wed Sep 4, 8:05 AM ET
Fourteen metro area suspects have been indicted for allegedly helping hundreds of people gain citizenship illegally, Local 4 reported Tuesday.
Investigators say the suspects were taking money for fraudulent medical waivers. The waivers allow people trying to gain U.S. citizenship to skip key parts of immigration exams, Local 4 reported.
Since 1997, the INS has allowed people with physical or developmental disabilities, or mental impairments to bypass English proficiency and civics portions of immigration exams, according to Local 4.
The suspects include medical doctors and PhD's who allegedly took $100 to $400 from about 600 immigrants, in an effort to make it easier for them to gain citizenship, Local 4 reported.
INS officials say that as a result of the fraud, as many as 8,000 to 10,000 more immigrants may have been brought into the country. Investigators said that once the suspects helped some immigrants with waivers, those people got citizenship and were able to bring in their relatives.
The suspects indicted by the government include:
Walid Salah of Dearborn Chilakamani Ramesh of West Bloomfield Charles Stern of Birmingham Vijaya Ramesh of West Bloomfield Samir Al-Kilaine of Dearborn Imad Mohamed Haidar of Dearborn Rawana I. Haidar of Dearborn Jorge Salustio Zuniga of White Lake Township Nihal Saran of Northville Township Hugh Bray of Northville Township Leon Kosi of Jerome Ali El-Hussein of Dearborn Fadi Fayad of Dearborn
Most of the people helped by the scam were from Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, according to Local 4.
The suspects face up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
Just what we need
He slipped the dragnet and is hiding in Wisconsin
Never see any supporters out and about telling illegals they are breaking the laws by using fake or stolen documents. They will tell them how greatful they are for illegals paying sales and the many sacrifices they make to pay sales taxes.
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