Category: Iraqi refugees

State Department Admits Massive Fraud in Iraqi Refugee Program

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

We reported that an investigation was underway, here in February:

Biden Admin Halts Special Refugee Program for Iraqis Due to Fraud Bust

However, now the international corporate media is admitting it.

But, you need to know that this isn’t the first and won’t be the last admission that fraud is rampant in the US Refugee Admissions Program. 

Longtime readers may remember the moratorium on Somalis entering the US that began back in 2008 when the State Department uncovered fraud in the family reunification program—oopsy the Somalis claiming to be family members weren’t even kissing cousins.

I followed that scam investigation:

State Department: Possibly tens of thousands of Somalis in the US illegally

In 2007, I first told readers about how Ted Kennedy secretively tacked the Special Iraqi program onto a must-pass Defense Authorization bill in the dark of night.

How many Iraqi refugees will be resettled in Hyannisport?

So here we are nearly 50,000 Iraqis later…

From Reuters this morning just in time for UN-designated World Refugee Day on Sunday:

Mark Hetfield, CEO of HIAS (formerly Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) one of nine federal resettlement contractors*** is quoted as saying:

“Resettlement is a very scarce and valuable and lifesaving commodity,” said Mark Hetfield, president of HIAS, a refugee resettlement agency.

“People … are going to do anything they can to access it.”

 

EXCLUSIVE U.S. suspects 4,000 cases of fraud in Iraqi refugee program -documents

WASHINGTON, June 18 (Reuters) – U.S. authorities pursuing a sweeping fraud investigation suspect some 4,000 Iraqis of filing fraudulent applications for resettlement in the United States as refugees, and they are re-examining cases involving more than 104,000 others, according to State Department reports reviewed by Reuters.

More than 500 Iraqis already admitted as refugees have been implicated in the alleged fraud and could be deported or stripped of their U.S. citizenship, according to one document sent to members of Congress. It said there was “no indication to date that any of these 500+ individuals have ties to terrorism.”

The probe – one of the biggest into refugee program fraud in recent history – is fueling reservations among some in Joe Biden’s administration as they debate whether to create a similar program to assist Afghan refugees as American troops withdraw after 20 years of war, U.S. officials told Reuters.

The reports show the investigation is more far-reaching and serious than U.S. officials have disclosed since announcing in January a 90-day freeze of the Iraqi “Direct Access” refugee program. The suspension, which in April was extended indefinitely by the State Department, followed the unsealing of an indictment accusing three foreign nationals of fraud, records theft and money laundering.

A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on the scope of the investigation and internal government deliberations, but said the fraud scheme did not affect security vetting of refugees.

“The discovery, investigation, and prosecution of individuals involved in the scheme demonstrated the U.S. government’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the program while upholding our humanitarian tradition,” the spokesperson said. “Those who would seek to take advantage of America’s generosity in welcoming the most vulnerable people will be held accountable.”

The spokesperson did not give a timeline for the investigation, but said the agency would work “as quickly and thoroughly as possible” to complete the review and make any necessary security changes.

Now this next part doesn’t make any sense to me because we are already bringing tens of thousands of Afghans here in the Special Immigrant Visa Program, the same one that the Iraqis used.

Here is one post on the Afghans from 2019:

Special Immigrant Visa Holders Coming in by the Thousands from Afghanistan, but Iraqi Flow has Slowed

You can see here that over 2,000 Afghans have been admitted in just the present fiscal year. How many did your state ‘welcome?’

Back to Reuters:

Under pressure from lawmakers of both parties and advocacy groups, the Biden administration is considering a similar program for Afghans facing Taliban retribution, according to a State Department official, a congressional aide and a lawmaker.

But there “are a lot of reservations” about expediting the resettlement of Afghans as refugees in the United States, said the State Department official, citing the problems with the Iraqi program.

There is much, much more so continue reading here.

I just took a trip down memory lane and see that I have a lot of posts on the Special Immigrant Visa Program and here is one in particular you should see.  Obama Judge rules that we aren’t bringing sufficient numbers of Iraqis and Afghans!

Judge Says Trump Admin Not Moving Fast Enough Bringing in Iraqi and Afghan Special Visa Holders

 

***In case you are new to RRW, here are the nine contractors that have monopolized all refugee distribution in the US for decades.

When President Trump reduced the number of regular refugees being admitted, he did continue the Iraq and Afghan special refugees program and the contractors, we learned, were surviving off their payouts to resettle them.

Foreigners First! is their motto.

Biden Admin Halts Special Refugee Program for Iraqis Due to Fraud Bust

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

“It is important to hold accountable those who would seek to defraud such programs, particularly when the crimes compromise our national security and public safety, when they impose such high costs on taxpayers…”

(Michael R. Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia)

Yes, you heard that right.  The Special Immigrant Visa Program for Iraqis (and their family members) who have supposedly helped us in Iraq was suspended as a result of that fraud bust we reported a few days ago.  I had missed this part of the story.

For inquiring minds, I have written many posts over the year about Iraqi Special Immigrant Visas.

From the Washington Times:

Feds stop special Iraqi refugee program after troubling DHS security breach

The State Department announced an emergency 90-day halt on admitting refugees from Iraq who helped the U.S. war effort after authorities revealed Friday that the program had been breached in a brazen conspiracy to steal refugees’ files.

Michael Sherwin

Acting Secretary of State Daniel B. Smith said they need to study the Iraqi program’s “vulnerabilities,” but insisted the broader refugee program is still safe.

His announcement came just hours after federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging three people, including two Homeland Security employees accused of selling secret files on refugee applicants.

Prosecutors said the secret information, including applicants’ employment records, security checks, military history and their very personal accounts of persecution, were all able to be breached by the employees.

More here.

Just so you know, more Afghans are admitted in this special program that came into existence as a hidden rider by Senator Ted Kennedy to a Defense authorization bill.  The program did not go through regular order in Congress.

The three-year-old chart below does not show that tens of thousands more dependents came along with the SIV applicant.

https://www.statista.com/chart/12246/afghans-account-for-the-majority-of-special-immigrant-visas/

DOJ Announces Fraud Bust in US Refugee Admissions Program

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

 “It is important to hold accountable those who would seek to defraud such programs, particularly when the crimes compromise our national security and public safety, when they impose such high costs on taxpayers…”

(Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin for the District of Columbia)

 

Three foreign nationals from Russia, Iraq and Jordan have been charged in stealing information about refugees from the US State Department’s WRAPs data base.

I guess this might explain why the Trump State Department has removed much of the WRAPs data that was available to the public (throwing away the baby with the bath water).

And, this case might explain why the flow of Iraqis to your American towns had slowed dramatically late in the Trump administration.

As we have been saying for over a decade, the US Refugee Admissions Program is filled with fraud and corruption. These three are likely small fish in the overall scheme of things.

From Russia to the Middle East….

Department of Justice last week:

Three Foreign Nationals Charged with Conspiracy to Steal U.S. Government Records and Defraud U.S. Refugee Program

WASHINGTON – An indictment charging three defendants was unsealed in the District of Columbia today.

The indictment charges Aws Muwafaq Abduljabbar, 42; Haitham Isa Saado Sad, 42; and Olesya Leonidovna Krasilova, 43, with conspiracy to steal U.S. government records and to defraud the United States, theft of U.S. government records, and conspiracy to launder money, all related to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

[….]

According to the indictment, Sad was employed in Amman, Jordan from 2007 to 2016 by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Krasilova held a similar position at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Part of their duties included processing applications for refugee resettlement in the United States through the USRAP.

The indictment charges that, from approximately February 2016 until at least April 2019, the three defendants, led by Abduljabbar, conspired to steal U.S. government records related to hundreds of USRAP applications. The records contained sensitive, non-public information about refugee applicants, their family members, their employment and military history, their accounts of persecution or fear of persecution, the results of security checks, and internal assessments by U.S. officials regarding applications.

[….]

As outlined in the indictment, the theft of USRAP records creates a number of risks to public safety and national security while imposing significant costs on the U.S. government, its taxpayers, and otherwise legitimate refugee applicants negatively impacted by the scheme. Defendants Abduljabbar and Sad were previously arrested and remain held without bond. Defendant Krasilova remains at large.

[….]

“Individuals like Ms. Krasilova and Mr. Sad are entrusted to protect the integrity of the U.S. immigration system and sensitive information vital to our national security interests,” said Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari. “The Office of Inspector General remains committed to aggressively investigating DHS employees who abuse their positions, betray the public trust, and conspire with persons such as Mr. Abduljabbar to defraud the United States.”

More here.

We will have more to say, but just wanted to get a preliminary story out.

For those with inquiring minds, here is the indictment itself.  (If this doesn’t open, send me a comment to this post and I’ll send it to you directly.)

We expect the Biden administration to be doing a better job of hiring people for this work than Obama did…  Ha!

And, I just came across this cutesy video created as Obama was leaving office explaining to potential refugees the process for admission to the US.  Thought you might find it interesting.

 

 

Sweden: Iraqi Refugee Accused of Decapitating Swedish Girlfriend

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 1 Comment

Invasion of Europe news…..

She had gone to his home to collect her belongings after breaking up with him.  Sick story at the UK Daily Mail (hat tip: Paul):

Swedish girl, 17, was decapitated ‘by Iraqi-born boyfriend, 23, who wrapped her head in aluminium foil’ after she broke up with him in case that has shocked the country

The story at the Voice of Europe says the alleged murderer is an Iraqi Kurd. https://voiceofeurope.com/2020/05/sweden-migrant-charged-with-murdering-his-girlfriend-and-chopping-her-into-pieces/

 

A 17-year-old girl was beheaded by her ex-boyfriend after breaking up with him in Sweden, it is alleged.

Wilma Andersson vanished on November 14 last year and police found a ‘body part’ two weeks later – which was later revealed to be her head.

Her ex-boyfriend Tishko Ahmed Shabaz was arrested at the time and has now been charged with her murder, which he denies.

Shabaz is accused of decapitating Wilma when she went to collect her belongings before wrapping her head in foil and hiding it at his home.

Read on if you can stomach it.

My Sweden file is here.  I’ve long predicted it will be the first European country to be completely annihilated by its own stupidity regarding immigration.

Find my Invasion of Europe archive by clicking here.

Alabama: Iraqi Refugee Ordered Deported, Lied on Refugee Application

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 3 Comments

So what else is new!  Of course, many of them lie. The only difference is that once in a blue moon one is caught!

I have a couple of stories this morning that could be posted either here or at ‘Frauds and Crooks!’  This one, and then up next Rep. Ilhan Omar story breaks internationally.

From Fox10:

Mobile man who lied about Iraqi military record avoids prison – but loses something more valuable

Holy cow! He had been in Saddam Hussein’s Army for 20 years! So much for the much ballyhooed “robust vetting” of refugees.

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – An Iraq native who lied about his military record to get into the United States avoided prison Friday but lost something more valuable – his American citizenship.

Do you suspect someone is committee refugee/asylum fraud. Here is where you can report it: https://www.uscis.gov/report-fraud/combating-fraud-and-abuse-in-asylum-program

Saad Taha Ahmed lived a quiet life in southwest Alabama for nearly a decade as a refugee from war-torn Iraq. U.S. officials granted him refugee status in 2010 and placed him in Mobile.

Ahmed, whose full name is Saad Taha Ahmed Yousif Al-Qaysy, became a legal permanent resident in 2011 and got citizenship in 2015.

Then investigators discovered Ahmed’s secret – he was not a victim of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s military; he was a member of it.

On Friday, Chief U.S. District Judge Kristi DuBose sentenced Ahmed to three years’ probation for the fraud and ordered that his citizenship be revoked.

“It sounds like you did what you did for your family,” the judge said. “But you still violated the law, and you applied for citizenship under false pretenses.”

After the hearing, a U.S. Border Patrol agent took the defendant into custody and indicated he would be put into deportation proceedings.

[….]

In his written plea agreement, Ahmed admitted that he concealed the full extent of his military service, telling American officials in his refugee application that he was in the army only from 1987 to 1991 to fulfill compulsory military service.

In fact, according to court documents, he entered the army in 1983 and remained for 20 years until the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. During those two decades, Ahmed rose to the rank of colonel, the most senior officer position short of general.

More here.

Looking around for additional information, I found this Court document that says the government initially attempted to seal the case against Saad Taha Ahmed Yousif Al-Qaysy.

If someone wants to write a book, I have over 650 posts on Iraqi refugees going back a dozen years archived here at RRW.  Of course, Iraqis represent one of the largest movements of Middle East migrants to the US in the last decade.