ICE Agents Arrest Immigration Lawyer for Marriage Visa Fraud

On July 24, 2009 Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents arrested immigration lawyer, Lilian Asante, and her associate, Kwadwo Asante, on charges of marriage fraud in Columbus, Ohio. The pair is charged with entering into two separate phony marriages with U.S. citizens in an effort to obtain immigration benefits. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to be aggressive in investigating marriage visa fraud cases and arresting the responsible parties. In 2008, ICE agents arrested 238 individuals involved in various marriage fraud schemes. Of these 238, ICE was successful in handing out 198 criminal convictions and seized up to $430,000 in assets. Marriage visa fraud carries a penalty of up $250,000 and/or five years imprisonment. USCIS scrutinizes every marriage based immigrant visa petition. Therefore, it very important that the marriage visa petitions and applications are prepared by a qualified immigration lawyer.Source: Immigration and Customs Enforcement