US Citizenship and Immigration Services Issues Warning to Illegal Aliens Over False Information

Strategic Insights -

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a warning to individuals who intentionally misrepresent or falsify information to obtain an immigration benefit, such as a visa, green card, asylum, or US citizenship. The agency has restored its robust screening and vetting capabilities to detect aliens with harmful intent and deter them from entering the US. Immigration fraud is a serious crime, and those who use deceitful practices to obtain immigration advantages will face severe consequences. The USCIS has clarified its policy on false claims to US citizenship, stating that it is not necessary to show intent to find an alien inadmissible.

Key Takeaways:

  • The USCIS has restored robust screening and vetting capabilities to detect individuals with harmful intent.
  • Immigration fraud is a serious crime that can result in severe consequences, including permanent inadmissibility and immigrant waiver unavailability.
  • The USCIS policy manual has been updated to clarify that a false claim to US citizenship can carry immigration consequences, even if it was not knowingly made.
  • The policy manual provides steps for officers to determine inadmissibility based on the alien's subjective intent.
  • Certain aliens who permanently resided in the US before turning 16 are eligible for a narrow exception to the ground of inadmissibility for false claims to US citizenship.

Statistics:

  • The USCIS policy manual update occurred in 2020.
  • According to the 2019 Board of Immigration Appeals decision in Matter of Zhang, a false claim to citizenship can carry immigration consequences even if it was not knowingly made.
  • The USCIS has clarified that it is not necessary to show intent to find an alien inadmissible for a false claim to US citizenship.

Sources:

  • USCIS: "Restoring the Integrity of the Immigration System to Make America Safe Again"
  • Board of Immigration Appeals: Matter of Zhang (2019)
  • USCIS Policy Manual update (2020)

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