Officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently took more than 40 people into custody in association with a fraudulent marriage racket in the state of Florida. According to immigration experts, this represents just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Miami immigration fraud perpetrated by false marriages in Miami and throughout the state. For most people, working with a qualified Miami deportation attorney can provide a pathway to permanent residency in the U.S. without the legal risks and expenses associated with less scrupulous strategies.
An Organized Criminal Enterprise
Federal authorities allege that Larisa de Lima, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from the Ukraine, set up false marriages between undocumented immigrants and Cuban-American women with lawful permanent resident status. These marriages allowed the undocumented individuals to apply for and receive green cards and permanent resident status after paying $25,000 to de Lima and her organization. In return, de Lima paid Cuban-American women $5,000 or more to participate in the sham marriages and pocketed the $20,000 for herself and her family. Both her husband and her daughter participated in the fraudulent marriage scheme and provided notary public services for marriage licenses issued in connection with these cases of immigration fraud.
Participants Facing Deportation
To date, at least eight of the undocumented immigrants involved in de Lima’s case have been deported back to their home countries. Two of the Cuban-American women who participated in the sham marriages have been stripped of their U.S. citizenship and deported as well. This is not the first case involving fraudulent marriages in recent years. In 2016, Javier Manejias, Rolando Mulet and Odalys Marrero were convicted in the Southern District of Florida of charging undocumented immigrants $10,000 or more for false marriages to Cuban-American individuals living legally in the U.S.
For most legal and undocumented immigrants, working with a qualified Miami deportation attorney is the single best strategy for staying on the right side of the legal system while protecting your right to remain in the U.S. The qualified and experienced Miami deportation lawyers at Pozo Goldstein, deliver the most comprehensive immigration services for you and your family. We work with you to determine the most practical pathway to lawful permanent resident status or citizenship. To learn more about the services we provide or to set up an initial consultation , call us today at 305-856-0400 or toll-free at 1-88-VISA-LAW-1. Our team of dedicated Miami deportation attorneys is ready to help you achieve your goals.
