By Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA, on Immigration Updates
In a major enforcement action, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it had investigated 1,000 immigration cases in the Minneapolis- St. Paul area, identifying 275 as potentially fraudulent. The agency referred 42 cases to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or issued court appearance notices, and four individuals were arrested, though no charges have been filed. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow described the operation as the first of many to come nationwide and highlighted evidence of marriage fraud, forged documents, and visa overstays. Director Edlow also flagged concerns with the Uniting for Ukraine program, citing one sponsor who filed for over 100 Ukrainians without elaborating further.
Critics, including former senior USCIS official Claire Trickler-McNulty, questioned the operation’s effectiveness, noting the small percentage of referrals and the strain it may place on already overburdened agency resources. The operation reflects broader policy shifts at USCIS under the Trump administration, including increased scrutiny of immigration benefit applicants and the reintroduction of practices like neighborhood interviews. Other policy changes include heightened penalties for those suspected of fraud and rules allowing removal proceedings for immigrants applying for green cards through family sponsorship if they lack legal status, even affecting DACA recipients and others in legal limbo.
For more information on this, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys at Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA today.
Reference:
Daniella Silva, USCIS Launched Major Operation in Minneapolis Investigating Suspected Immigration Fraud, NBC News (Oct. 1, 2025), https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uscis-launched-major-operation-minneapolis-investigating-suspected-imm-rcna234882.
