Ninety foreign students are arrested by ICE for enrolling at a fake Michigan university set up by the government to bust an immigration scam
- The Department of Homeland Security created the fake University of Farmington
- It was set up to catch students staying in US on student visas at bogus schools
- In March, it was announced that 161 students, mostly Indians, had been arrested
Ninety more foreigners have been arrested after enrolling at a fake school set up by immigration officers designed to target students who were staying in the US illegally.
The Department of Homeland Security created the fake University of Farmington in Michigan to catch scammers who make money by helping foreigners live in the US on student visas while enrolled at bogus schools.
The university offered a ‘dynamic business administration and STEM curriculum’ program, but the students, mostly from India, ‘knew that they would not attend any actual classes, earn credits or make academic progress towards an actual degree’.
In March, it was announced that 161 Indian students had been arrested by ICE and now a further 90 have joined them, making a total of 250.
ICE has arrested 250 foreign students, mostly from India, for enrolling at the fake University of Farmington (website above), which was set up by the Department of Homeland Security
Federal authorities announced that the school was a sham in January in an undercover government operation to catch immigration scammers.
Nearly 80 per cent of those arrested were granted voluntary departure and left the US, according to The Detroit Free Press.
Out of the remaining 20 per cent, half received a final order of removal and half filed for some relief or are contesting their removals.
Federal indictments say recruiters were paid to help foreigners maintain their status as ‘students’ and get work permits.
Most of the 600 students enrolled at the school were from Telugu-speaking regions of India.
The university had a physical building (pictured) which was announced as a sham in January
The university had a physical building and gave students the option to enroll in Optional Practical Training or Curricular Practical Training programs.
Federal indictments say recruiters were paid to help foreigners maintain their status as ‘students’ and get work permits.
The newspaper reports that seven of eight recruiters charged by the government pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.
The eighth person will be sentenced in January.