Immigration News

Justice Department Secures the Denaturalization of a Repeat Child Sex Abuser

On June 27, Judge Vanessa D. Gilmore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas entered an order that revoked the naturalized U.S. citizenship of a child sex abuser, restrained and enjoined him from claiming any rights, privileges, or advantages of U.S. citizenship, and ordered him to immediately surrender and deliver his Certificate of Naturalization and any other indicia of U.S. citizenship to federal authorities, the Justice Department announced.

“The Justice Department is committed to preserving the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will aggressively pursue denaturalization in cases where individuals lie on their naturalization applications, especially in a circumstance like this one, which involved a child sex abuser. Civil denaturalization cases are an important law enforcement tool for protecting the public, including our children.”

Jose Arizmendi, 54, a native of Mexico, pleaded guilty in April 1996 to aggravated sexual assault of a child in the District Court of Harris County, Texas. When Arizmendi applied for naturalized citizenship later that month and again when he was interviewed in connection with his application in October 1996, he answered “no” when asked if he had “ever been arrested, cited, charged, indicted, convicted, fined, or imprisoned for breaking or violating any law or ordinance excluding traffic regulations.” Relying on this answer, the U.S. government granted his naturalization application and Arizmendi became a U.S. citizen later that year. When the Department of Justice filed a complaint in federal court to initiate denaturalization proceedings in February 2015, Arizmendi was serving an 18-year prison sentence in Mexico for a separate sex offense of rape that he committed in that country.

To perfect service of process on Arizmendi and bring him within the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the Department’s trial team invoked the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, commonly referred to as the “Hague Service Convention,” with the Mexican government to serve the complaint on Arizmendi in a Mexican prison. Judge Gilmore ruled that Arizmendi’s Texas conviction precluded him from demonstrating the requisite good moral character he needed to qualify for U.S. citizenship at the time he naturalized. Judge Gilmore also ruled that he did not meet the requirements for naturalization and unlawfully procured his citizenship because he concealed his conviction from federal immigration authorities.

“Applications for naturalization must be candid with all material facts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez for the Southern District of Texas. “Like in this case, failing to disclose material data should result in denaturalization.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS) conducted the investigation. Trial Attorney Troy Liggett of OIL-DCS’s National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Goldman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas jointly prosecuted the case with support from Paralegal Specialist Judith Cardona.

Agents Find Heroin Concealed in Woman’s Groin

TUCSON, Ariz. – Nogales Station Border Patrol agents working the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint Wednesday afternoon found more than 2 pounds of heroin concealed in the groin area of a 58-year-old Mexican woman. Heroin was discovered during an immigration inspection on a commercial shuttle-bus. When a female agent obtained permission from the woman to conduct a body search, the agent detected a foreign object in the woman’s groin area.

Agents arrested the woman for narcotics smuggling after determining the object was a package of heroin, worth almost $35,000. She was then transported to the Nogales Border Patrol Station and later turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for processing.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Border Patrol Stops Semi-Truck Holding more than 1.5 Tons of Marijuana

SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents from the Indio Border Patrol Station assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling marijuana on Friday.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:15 a.m., when a 2006 white semi-truck approached the checkpoint.

A Border Patrol detection canine alerted to the semi-truck during a pre-primary inspection. Agents referred the man to secondary inspection area for a closer examination. After an extensive search, agents discovered several pallets loaded with 38 cardboard boxes containing 150 packages wrapped in cellophane. The contents of the packages tested positive for the characteristics of marijuana.

“This was a fairly large seizure and our agents did an outstanding job of interdicting it,” said Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David S. Kim. “Criminal networks should be afraid to conduct their activities at our border or at our checkpoints. In addition to our tried and true methods of interdiction, we continue to strengthen our ability to dismantle criminal enterprises.”

The 150 bundles in the semi-truck had a combined weight of 3,575 pounds with an estimated street value of $1,716,000. Agents find 38 cardboard boxes holding 150 packages of marijuana.

The man, a Mexican national, the semi-truck, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

In fiscal year 2017, El Centro Sector has seized more than 5,354 pounds of marijuana.

CBP Bringing Global Entry Enrollment Event To Fargo

PEMBINA, N.D. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection announces a Global Entry enrollment workshop in Fargo. CBP will conduct interviews for conditionally approved Global Entry applicants during this enrollment event.

Global Entry is a voluntary expedited clearance program for pre-approved, low-risk international travelers, who are processed by biometric identification using a designated kiosk, rather than waiting in line for entry processing by a CBP officer when entering the U.S. at a participating airport. The kiosks speed entry by reducing wait and processing times.

CBP officer processes Global Entry applicant to become a conditionally approved Global Entry applicant, individuals must apply online, undergo a background investigation and complete an in-person interview with a CBP officer. If no disqualifying information is found, travelers receive the benefit of expedited processing with Global Entry. The $100 application fee allows for five years of membership. Travelers can use nearly 300 Global Entry kiosks at 34 U.S. airports, and 10 pre-clearance locations in Canada and Ireland.

“CBP’s goal for this enrollment event is to provide a convenient, easy-access, local venue for conditionally approved Global Entry applicants to complete the required interview with a CBP officer,” said Area Port Director Jason Schmelz.

During the enrollment event, the temporary Enrollment Center will open on August 29 and close on August 30 with daily Enrollment Center hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Time.

Travelers interested in applying for Global Entry may apply online using the Global Online Enrollment System GOES. With the enrollment event quickly approaching, applicants should start the application process now. Applications must be submitted no later than Aug. 1. The application vetting process takes six to eight weeks for conditional approval.

Global Entry also provides access to the TSA Pre?™ initiative, which offers expedited screening through domestic airport security checkpoints. Benefits of TSA Pre?™ include being able to leave shoes, light outerwear and belts on, and not having to remove laptops from carrying cases.
More information on CBP’s Global Entry Program can be found at Global Entry or by visiting the CBP homepage at www.cbp.gov.

Woman Arrested for Smuggling Man in Trunk

TUCSON, Ariz. – Nogales Station Border Patrol agents working at the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint Wednesday afternoon discovered a 22-year-old Mexican man being smuggled in the trunk of a Nissan sedan.
The man was discovered after agents obtained permission from the driver, a 19-year-old female U.S. citizen, to look inside the trunk during a secondary inspection. Man hiding in trunk of vehicle.

Agents arrested both individuals. The driver is being charged for alien smuggling while the Mexican national will face charges for immigration violations.

At the time of the arrest, the outdoor temperature was 102 degrees; which possesses a significant danger to anyone locked in the trunk of a car.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.

Two Afghan Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Import Heroin into the United States

WASHINGTON – DEA Special Operations Division Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan and Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim today announced that Lajbar Lajward Khan, a/k/a “Haji Lajaward,” and Amal Said Alam Shah, a/k/a “Haji Zar Mohammad,” pled guilty to conspiring to import heroin into the United States, and to distributing heroin with the intent to import into the United States. Lajaward and Said pled guilty yesterday to a Superseding Indictment in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood.

“The United States has been besieged by traffickers bringing drugs into our country,” said DEA Special Operations Division Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan. “Through close cooperation with our foreign counterparts, the United States brought these international drug-traffickers to justice, taking another step in keeping illegal and harmful drugs out of the hands of Americans.”

According to court documents, between May 2014 and June 2015, Lajaward and Said worked together in an effort to import large quantities of heroin—in the range of 1,000 kilograms—from Afghanistan into the United States. In August 2014, Lajaward began communicating by telephone with an undercover agent of the DEA (the “UC”). Lajaward told the UC that he was interested in supplying large quantities of high-quality heroin for importation into the United States, where it would be sold for millions of dollars. In the course of the calls between Lajaward and the UC, Lajaward introduced the UC to one of Lajaward’s heroin-trafficking associates, Said.

On October 30, 2014, Lajaward continued to express his interest in supplying large quantities of heroin to the UC for importation into the United States, and Lajaward offered to supply a sample of heroin to the UC, as a test shipment to be sold in the United States.

During recorded calls, Lajaward, Said, and the UC agreed that the delivery of the three-kilogram heroin sample would occur in Kabul on or about January 15, 2015. On that day, an undercover Afghan law enforcement officer, acting at the direction of the DEA and posing as an associate of the UC, met with Lajaward and one of Lajaward’s associates in Kabul and received delivery of the three-kilogram heroin sample. At the same time, more than 1,000 miles away in Dubai, the UC met with another associate of Lajaward to pay for the heroin sample, as had been arranged during recorded calls between the UC and Lajaward. At that meeting, the UC paid $10,500 to the associate for the heroin sample.

About two weeks later, on January 28, 2015, Said met with the UC in Dubai. Said discussed the heroin sample that the DTO had recently supplied for importation into the United States, stated that the DTO was prepared to supply 1,000 kilograms of heroin to the UC, and indicated that it would only take the DTO about 15 days to produce 100 kilograms of heroin for shipment to the United States.

On April 2, 2015, Said met again with the UC in Dubai where they negotiated additional details of the agreement for the DTO to supply massive quantities of heroin for importation into the United States, indicating that Lajaward and Said would share in the profits generated from the sale of the heroin in the United States.

In June 2015, Lajaward and Said traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, to meet with the UC. On June 13, 2015, Lajaward and Said were arrested in Bangkok by Thai authorities based on the charges in this case, at the request of U.S. authorities. Lajaward and Said were later brought to the United States to face the charges against them.

Lajaward and Said each face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only. Sentencing will be determined by a judge and is scheduled for Nov. 1, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Wood.

This prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebekah Donaleski and George D. Turner are in charge of the prosecution.

More than 100 ceremonies to be held this year at national parks and historic sites nationwide

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service on August 25 by welcoming 450 new U.S. citizens during 16 naturalization ceremonies at national parks across the country. These ceremonies are representational of the partnership between USCIS and NPS, and are a large step towards our goal of holding at least 100 naturalization ceremonies in national parks throughout this centennial year.

“As we celebrate the 100th birthday of our National Park Service on August 25, 450 new Americans will also celebrate the fulfillment of their dreams of citizenship at some of our nation’s most historic sites,” USCIS Director León Rodríguez said. “At USCIS, we believe that being an American means understanding and honoring our history and the places the National Park Service is charged to protect. We look forward to continuing to welcome new U.S. citizens and protecting ‘America's Best Idea’ for the next 100 years.”

The NPS has partnered with USCIS on promoting awareness and understanding of citizenship since 2006. Since the launch of the partnership, the NPS has hosted naturalization ceremonies for thousands of new Americans at sites across the country including on the rim of the Grand Canyon, on the Civil War battlefield at Vicksburg National Military Park, the base of Mount Rushmore, Ellis Island, and at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

“It is especially meaningful to celebrate our 100th birthday with a series of naturalization ceremonies in national parks throughout the country,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “National parks tell the stories of notable people, great achievements, and monumental events that shaped our nation, our government, and our society. These magnificent places belong to all Americans and we invite everyone, especially our newest citizens, to Find Your Park.”

A source of pride and enjoyment for all Americans, national parks also provide an ideal setting for learning about the United States. Prospective citizens studying for the naturalization test can find answers to test questions such as “Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?” and “Name one problem that led to the Civil War” and “Name one U.S. territory” by visiting a national park.

USCIS’ activities for the celebration on August 25 will feature naturalization ceremonies at Grand Canyon National Park, the World War II Memorial, and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.

USCIS Director León Rodríguez will administer the Oath of Allegiance and join Gay Vietzke, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, in welcoming 40 new Americans at the World War II Memorial, while USCIS Deputy Director Lori Scialabba will administer the Oath of Allegiance and deliver congratulatory remarks to 20 new Americans at Grand Canyon National Park.

Deputy Secretary of the Interior Mike Connor will join Department of Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Secretary Sarah Morgenthau in welcoming 50 new Americans at Fort McHenry National Monument.

Other ceremonies on August 25 include events at:

Biscayne National Park in Homestead, Florida.
Fort Smith National Historic Site in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Big Thicket National Preserve in Kountze, Texas.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
With the 16 ceremonies on August 25, USCIS will have held 78 naturalization ceremonies in national parks so far this year. To view a complete list of naturalization ceremonies held in units of the National Park Service today, please visit uscis.gov/news.

Immigration

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is proposing a new rule, which would allow certain international entrepreneurs to be considered for parole (temporary permission to be in the United States) so that they may start or scale their businesses here in the United States.

Read the advance version of the notice of proposed rulemaking: International Entrepreneur Rule. Once the notice of proposed rulemaking is published in the Federal Register, the public will have 45 days from the date of publication to comment. To submit comments, follow the instructions in the notice.

“America’s economy has long benefitted from the contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs, from Main Street to Silicon Valley,” said Director León Rodríguez. “This proposed rule, when finalized, will help our economy grow by expanding immigration options for foreign entrepreneurs who meet certain criteria for creating jobs, attracting investment and generating revenue in the U.S.”

The proposed rule would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use its existing discretionary statutory parole authority for entrepreneurs of startup entities whose stay in the United States would provide a significant public benefit through the substantial and demonstrated potential for rapid business growth and job creation. Under this proposed rule, DHS may parole, on a case-by-case basis, eligible entrepreneurs of startup enterprises:

Who have a significant ownership interest in the startup (at least 15 percent) and have an active and central role to its operations;
Whose startup was formed in the United States within the past three years; and
Whose startup has substantial and demonstrated potential for rapid business growth and job creation, as evidenced by:
Receiving significant investment of capital (at least $345,000) from certain qualified U.S. investors with established records of successful investments;
Receiving significant awards or grants (at least $100,000) from certain federal, state or local government entities; or
Partially satisfying one or both of the above criteria in addition to other reliable and compelling evidence of the startup entity’s substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation.
Under the proposed rule, entrepreneurs may be granted an initial stay of up to two years to oversee and grow their startup entity in the United States. A subsequent request for re-parole (for up to three additional years) would be considered only if the entrepreneur and the startup entity continue to provide a significant public benefit as evidenced by substantial increases in capital investment, revenue or job creation.

The notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register invites public comment for 45 days, after which USCIS will address the comments received. The proposed rule does not take effect with the publication of the notice of proposed rulemaking. It will take effect on the date indicated in the final rule when a final rule is published in the Federal Register.

USCIS Launches Virtual Assistant - Emma Gives Customers Another Option for Finding Answers

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services launched a virtual assistant named “Emma” today on uscis.gov, allowing customers to quickly find accurate information. She answers questions in plain English and navigates users to relevant USCIS web pages.

She is named after Emma Lazarus, whose famous words are inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty. Emma was developed in response to a growing interest in self-help tools and to enhance our customer service. USCIS call centers currently receive many questions concerning general information requests that can be provided through the Web. Now Emma will help provide that information.

Although Emma can currently answer many questions our customers commonly ask, her knowledge base is still growing. As customers ask more questions, Emma gets smarter and can better assist future customers.

You can access Emma on a desktop or laptop. Soon, she’ll be expanding to mobile devices, and her Spanish language capabilities will be arriving early next year.

Check out Emma at USCIS.gov and click “Ask a Question” in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

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USCIS Offers Civics Practice Test in Spanish

Online Test Joins English Version to Expand Resources for Aspiring Citizens

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched an online Spanish-language civics practice test today, joining the English version released earlier this year. The questions are presented in English with Spanish subtitles and focus on basic U.S. government and history topics. The goal is to help Spanish-speaking lawful permanent residents studying for the naturalization test with retaining the information and gaining a firmer grasp of English.
The civics test is normally conducted in English; however, certain applicants may be eligible to take the civics test in the language of their choice due to age and time as a permanent resident, a disability, or other exceptions and accommodations.

The practice tests were developed as part of the Task Force on New Americans initiatives and are available at my.uscis.gov, along with other resources to help navigate the immigration process. Tools available at myUSCIS include a locator to find English and citizenship classes, as well as options to determine eligibility to apply for naturalization.

USCIS is developing additional customer service features for myUSCIS. You can access myUSCIS on a mobile phone, computer, tablet or any other electronic device.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

USCIS -

Agents Arrest 4 Traveling with Marijuana, Loaded Gun

CBP to Implement Executive Order:

Putting American Workers First: USCIS Announces Further Measures to Detect H-1B Visa Fraud and Abuse

USCIS Reaches FY 2018 H-1B Cap

Foreign National Extradited and Pleads Guilty to Human Smuggling Conspiracy

USCIS to Host Naturalization Ceremonies Highlighting Continued Commitment to Veterans

Eagle Pass Border Patrol Apprehends 11 at Stash House

(EAD) Validity Extended for TPS El Salvador Beneficiaries

Trunk Smuggling Attempts Stopped

USCIS Announces Extension of Parole for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for All H-1B Petitions