Feds uncover immigration‑fraud ring in Twin Cities
Federal authorities — USCIS, ICE and the FBI — said Operation Twin Shields, conducted in the Twin Cities Sept. 19–28, flagged roughly 1,000 suspect cases involving about 900 people for sham marriages, forged documents and fake death certificates. Officials reported four arrests, 42 notices to appear in immigration court, and highlighted abuses tied to Uniting for Ukraine sponsorships and a fake Kenyan death certificate used to allege a spouse was deceased.
Legal
Public Safety
🔍 Key Facts
- Operation Twin Shields ran Sept. 19–28, 2025 in Minneapolis–Saint Paul and examined about 1,000 target cases involving roughly 900 people.
- Authorities say they uncovered sham marriages, forged documents, fake death certificates, F‑1/H‑1B visa abuse and overstays; four people were arrested and USCIS issued 42 notices to appear.
- USCIS Director Joseph Edlow is quoted; officials cited a case where a man paid $100 for a fake Kenyan death certificate and examples of mass sponsorship filings under Uniting for Ukraine.
📍 Contextual Background
- Uniting for Ukraine is a sponsorship program used to help Ukrainians leave or relocate because of the Russian invasion.