post traumatic green card disorder

Y's_habibitk · March 18, 2008

Ya!! It's a sad state of affairs. This stereotype has developed over MANY years and will be very hard to deconstruct.

What would really interest me is to have cold hard figures of how many marriages end because the relationship didnt work, and how many end because the person got what they wanted and left. Not some concocted/opinionated figures.. but TRUE facts.

Its a very easy out to say "HE/SHE used me!!"

anyway....

Beauty for Ashes · March 18, 2008

The true hard facts are why there are hellish aps,221s and marriage fraud units at ICE.Your situation is a real love story but many are not,so much so that embassies such as Egypt have put advisories out about marriage fraud.....10 years ago there wasnt a string of 221d petitions out of Casa and Cairo because the internet didnt exist as it does today...The k1 was an easy process.The fact that obtaining visa has become a horrible procees is a new one....9 11 contributed to alot...adam walsh to more...and although your marriage is real....many are not and the embassies flush alot of the fake marrriages and engagements out...catching legit marriages in the crossfire....Its not as much a stereotype but JFK airport got to the point in the late 90s to stop royal air maroc planes and ask the wives to come pick up their husbands and would make mass arrests..Jordan doesnt have the level of immigrant visas that a country like Morocco or Egypt has so you wont see the level of fraud nor do I believe is Ammans consulate as tough as lets say Casa or Cairo with year long aps....The people with the truest picture are ICE,Homeland Security who investigates marriages when they naturalise(comparing welfare and tax records...some people like an Algerian friend of mine are facing deportation for marriage fraud 5 years after adjusting status..)Just because you personally have not been affected,there are marriage fraud units outwhere I live making arrests and home visits daily........Hundreds of arabs right now sit in florida s ice units from everything from marriage fraud to visa overstay and the uscis pays very careful attention to statistics and USC complaints...thats why some consulates are harder to get through than others....Its a sad hard reality reflected in mena processing times (not just terrorism makes them hold these files....its also repeat reports of marriage fraud and the victimization of USCs

Dr. A ♥ O · March 18, 2008

Maybe we should try Iranian deterrence theory. He or she who is proved to use a USC for immigration papers shall be hanged in the public square. That oughta straighten them out real quick.

Jenn! · March 18, 2008

Arrests for what?

Beauty for Ashes · March 18, 2008

The guys were married to women and didnt know where their wives were or where they live...Immigration would detain them and tell them to call their wives....the ones who could reach their wives were presumed to live with them LOL

Jenn! · March 18, 2008

OIC. Hahaha, dumbasses!

Beauty for Ashes · March 18, 2008

ICE Deports Jordanian Pilot for Marriage Fraud, FAA Lies

CHICAGO, Ill.—ICE deported a 24-year-old pilot who married a United States citizen to evade immigration laws and lied on multiple Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot applications that he was a U.S. citizen.

Sami Abuhamatto, a citizen of Jordan, was deported December 16. He had been convicted in federal court on four counts of lying on various FAA applications to become a certified commercial pilot and flight instructor.

He was also convicted for committing marriage fraud by paying a U.S. citizen $1,500 to marry him so he could fraudulently apply for permanent residency in the United States.

ICE special agents arrested Abuhamatto in July and charged him with making false statements about being born in the United States and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on three applications he submitted to the FAA in 2001 and 2002. Abuhamatto signed his FAA applications stating the information included in the applications was true, but it was not. “Lying about U.S. citizenship on an FAA application is a serious issue, especially in light of the 9/11 hijackings and terrorist attacks,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Elissa A. Brown, who leads ICE in Chicago. “ICE agents work diligently to uncover and halt criminal activity that poses a threat to national security.”

JORDANIAN CITIZEN RESIDING IN EASTON PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD,

MONEY LAUNDERING, IMMIGRATION AND TAX OFFENSES

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FARES KHRAISAT, 38, a citizen of Jordan last residing in Easton, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to federal charges related to his participation in a commercial bribery scheme, as well as tax and immigration offenses.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, KHRAISAT owned and operated Zam-Zam Telecard, Inc., a Bridgeport-based phone card company. In pleading guilty, KHRAISAT admitted that he paid more than $400,000 in bribe payments to Jonathan Kaplan, a co-defendant, in order to receive favorable treatment from Kaplan's company. KHRAISAT also admitted that he and others provided between $400,000 and $500,000 in cash, which represented proceeds of illegal activity, to several other co-defendants, who then transferred the funds to a bank account in Jordan, via Hong Kong. KHRAISAT also admitted that he made false statements on an immigration application and his 2005 tax returns.

Today, KHRAISAT pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of making a false statement on an immigration application, and one count of making a false statement on a tax return.

Judge Underhill has scheduled sentencing for May 1, 2008, at which time KHRAISAT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 53 years. KHRAISAT also has agreed to forfeit a house that he purchased for $1.9 million, his business property that he purchased for more than $1 million, a car that he purchased for $200,000 in cash, $50,000 in cash that was seized from him, as well as a Rolex watch that he purchased for $38,000. KHRAISAT also faces possible deportation.

On November 14, 2007, Jonathan Kaplan pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. He awaits sentencing.

On January 31, 2008, KHRAISAT's wife, Jumana Qutishat, also known as "Jumana Quitshat" or "Jumana Khraisat," pleaded guilty to obtaining citizenship by fraud. Qutishat participated in a sham marriage in order to obtain U.S. citizenship. She then sought to help her true husband, KHRAISAT, obtain citizenship based on her own, fraudulently obtained citizenship. Qutishat awaits sentencing.

This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Custom Enforcement; the United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David A. Ring.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Tom Carson

(203) 821-3722

thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

Beauty for Ashes · March 18, 2008

Cstacee - 09:52am Jun 23, 2003 (136. 185/1145)

Need a divorce.

I was married in 1997 to a man in Jordan. I filed all of the paperwork when to the adjustment of staus interview in 1998, and never heard anything else. He never came to the US because he wanted to make sure everything was OK in Jordan and wanted to receive his visa before he left Jordan. In 1999, I was told that he had married aMuslim woman in Jordan, and did not want to come here anymore. I have had no contact with him since. Recently, I have decided to remarry, and contacted his cousins who are in my city to have a copy of my divorce papers sent from Jordan. I found out that he never divorced me. Now I have called divorce lawyers who say to call immigration lawyers, and immigration lawyers who say to call divorce lawyers. Even the courthouse where I live tell me that I am unble to obtain a divorce, because he is in another country and can't be served by Sheriffs. What can I do?

Beauty for Ashes · March 18, 2008

Beauty for Ashes · March 18, 2008

The Special Case of the Sham Marriage

Marrying a U.S. citizen is one of the easiest ways to stay in the United States once within the country's borders. Whether an individual comes to the United States and receives a two-week business entry, a six-month tourist length of stay, or a "duration of status" commensurate with his or her schooling, marrying an American provides an entree toward a permanent legal status and eventual naturalization. Of the 20 naturalized citizens and 16 legal permanent residents in this study, at least 18 married U.S. citizens, 10 of whom entered into sham marriages to obtain residency, some of them multiple times.

Two conversations between radical Islamists about travel and immigration suggest the tactical importance of such marriages. In the first, taped in August 2000 in Italy between Es Sayed (the document forger active in Italy who was discussed above) and Abdulsalam Ali Ali Abdulrahman (a Yemeni described by foreign law enforcement as one "who travels on a diplomatic passport"), the subject of marrying Western women is woven into a discussion of jihad:

A: This is worse than Iran, it's a terrifying thing, it moves from north to south from east to west: they see this thing only through a picture but it's crazy, who planned this is crazy but is also a genius, it will leave them mesmerized, you know the verse that says he who touches Islam or believes himself to be strong against Islam must be hit?

S: God is great and Mohammed is his prophet. They are dogs' sons.

A: They are. Let me go to Germany and we'll see: there are beautiful and brave women there, we have Jamal Fekri Jamal Sami. We marry the Americans, so that they study the faith and the Quran.

S: I know many brothers who want to get married, the American woman must learn the Quran.

A: They think they are lions but they are traitors, they perceive themselves as the world power but we'll deal with them. I know brothers who entered the US with the scam of the wedding publications, claiming they were Egyptians and not revealing their true identity and they were already married.

S: You must be an actor, if they catch you it's serious.

A: Because they like Egyptians there because Mubarak has many interests with them, but sooner or later he'll end up like Sadat.

S: It was a good attack that at the military parade.

A: A mujahid for the cause of jihad never gets tired for jihad gives you the strength to go on. We are in a country of enemies of God but we are still mujahideen fighting for a cause and we should take the youth here as Sheikh Abdelmajid does. The mujahid that fights in the enemy's lines has a greater value. Sheikh Abdelmajid is considered the emir of propaganda for the entire ummah. We can fight any force by using candles and planes and they won't be able to stop us with their heavy weapons. We have to hit them day and night. Remember: the danger in the airports, in that country the fire is burning and is only waiting for some wind. Our goal is the sky. . . . In Yemen people are talking about you running the mosque.

S: Yes, but only for a few times because I have other things to do. I like to move around, be active. When will this wedding take place?

A: When the light is turned on because last time Sheikh Hajab and Sheikh Abdelmajid blessed 10 of the youth and God is with us.21

The second conversation was taped in Spain. Spanish authorities reported:

On the 26th of May [2004], Rabei Osman defended to another disciple, called Yahia, the theory by which the "end justifies the means" for the cause of jihad. "Everything is permitted including marrying with Christian women, because we need [immigration] papers. We have to be everywhere, in Germany, in Holland, in London. We are dominating Europe with our presence. The women serve to obtain documents, because we are in favor of the cause of God."22

Seven of the 10 conspirators in the 1993 Landmarks plot married U.S. citizens, and six successfully converted the marriage into legal permanent residency or naturalization. One conspirator, Fadil Abdelghani, obtained legal residency despite having overstayed his length of stay as a tourist in 1987.23 El Sayyid Nosair married a U.S. citizen in 1981 and was naturalized in 1989. When he was naturalized, the INS was unaware that the FBI had knowledge of Nosair's weapons training of Islamic militants. 24

In November 1990, a year after Nosair was naturalized, the radical rabbi Meir Kahane was murdered in New York City. Nosair, seen holding the gun at the scene, attempted to flee but was caught; he was eventually acquitted of murder but convicted of weapons charges. He was later indicted for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, in part because he had in his apartment numerous sensitive U.S. military documents from Fort Bragg, now believed to have been provided by Ali Mohamed (discussed below). In March 1993, while searching the apartment of Ibrahim El-Gabrowny, who was the messenger in the World Trade Center plot, authorities discovered a series of fraudulent Nicaraguan passports for his cousin Nosair and Nosair's family. They also found five birth certificates-- for Nosair, his wife, and their three children--and driver's licenses, all in the names of aliases.

Al Qaeda. Three defendants involved in the August 1998 East Africa bombings married U.S. citizens; two acquired legal permanent residency and one became naturalized. Their immigration status enabled all three to operate in the United States for at least a dozen years prior to their arrests for their terrorist activity. Initially they worked on behalf of other radical Islamists and then, after the organization was founded, for al Qaeda, doing substantial damage to U.S. national security in the process.

Ali Mohamed was a key liaison between the East Africa conspirators and al Qaeda's leadership. He met his American wife on the plane to the United States in 1985, and had been a legal permanent resident since 1986. Mohamed was not arrested for his terrorist activity until 1998; before then, he moved frequently in and out of the United States on behalf of al Qaeda. Mohamed's criminal activities during his time in the United States included conducting a human smuggling operation on the West Coast, supplying U.S. military information to al Qaeda leadership, and training Bin Ladin's bodyguards abroad.

Wadi El-Hage came to the United States as a student in the early 1980s; he acquired legal permanent residency after marrying an American in 1986. He was later naturalized.25 El-Hage had crossed paths with Mohamed on a number of occasions before planning began for the East Africa bombings.26 He was an operational commander for that plot until his arrest by U.S. law enforcement 11 months before the bombings occurred.27 During his nearly two decades in the United States, he had become Bin Ladin's personal secretary; he also worked with the Al Kifah Refugee Center in New York and set up numerous charitable front organizations for al Qaeda in Africa. Throughout this time, his immigration status enabled him to easily travel in and out of the United States.

Khalid Abu Al-Dahab married three American women before he finally was able to acquire legal permanent residency; he eventually was naturalized. During his 12 years in the United States, he provided money and fraudulent travel documents to terrorists around the globe. These activities linked him to numerous attacks, including the 1998 East Africa bombings.28

Hizballah. Six individuals involved in the Hizballah cigarette smuggling case in North Carolina engaged in a pattern of sham marriages to U.S. citizens followed by petitions to acquire legal permanent residency. The conspirators' "legal" immigration status allowed them to operate in the United States for nearly a decade raising thousands of dollars in organized crime activity that was both sent back in dollars to Hizballah in Lebanon and used to purchase military equipment such as stun guns, night vision goggles, computers, and digital and video cameras.29

Like the 9/11 conspirators, they relied on fraud to enter the United States; but unlike the hijackers, whose stay would end with the execution of their plot, they needed to acquire an immigration status that would enable them to stay (and operate their cigarette smuggling operation) indefinitely. Three of these associates of Hizballah entered in 1992; they used Lebanese passports with counterfeit nonimmigrant tourist visas purportedly issued in Venezuela, and once the conspirators were inside U.S. borders, they paid U.S. citizens to marry them.30

From January 1999 through January 2000, Said Mohamad Harb, one of the key figures in Hizballah's North Carolina operation run by Mohamad Hammoud, helped secure three fraudulent visas and three sham marriages for the purpose of "legally" bringing to the United States his brother, his brother-in-law, and sister so that they might become legal permanent residents. The two men each obtained a nonimmigrant visa from the U.S. embassy in Cyprus; though given one- and two-week lengths of stays for conducting business upon entry into the United States, each married a U.S. citizen immediately after his arrival and therefore was allowed to stay indefinitely. In the case of Harb's sister, a male U.S. citizen was paid to meet her in Lebanon and then travel with her to Cyprus, where their marriage enabled her to acquire an immigration visa. In June 2000, Harb also attempted to give an immigration special agent a $10,000 bribe so that another brother could enter the United States.31

Between 1995 and 2000, Hammoud held "prayer" meetings at his Charlotte home where he would show videos of Hizballah operations and solicit donations that amounted to thousands of dollars being sent to a Hizballah military commander in Lebanon. The first federal indictment was against 18 individuals involved in the cigarette smuggling scam that may have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Hizballah. A second indictment nine months later charged nine Lebanese with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Seven of the conspirators pled guilty to lesser charges, while Harb entered into a plea agreement to testify against Hammoud. All the conspirators were convicted of all counts against them, including the immigration violations.32 Hammoud was sentenced to 155 consecutive years. His sentence was reduced for exceeding the maximum sentencing guidelines and remanded to the lower court.33

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad operating in South Florida also obtained a variety of immigration benefits illegally and committed immigration violations.34 Sami Al Arian, the highly publicized lead defendant in the pending terrorism case in Tampa, came under intense scrutiny in 1995 as the suspected leader of the PIJ in the United States.

The 1995 raid of the Al Arian's offices uncovered a web of immigration violations. The most prominent of the violations is that Al Arian allegedly lied on his own naturalization petition, failing to list his affiliation with two PIJ front organizations. An immigration agent described the fraud scheme that Al Arian was possibly using in a November 1995 search warrant affidavit:

Based upon the facts and information that I have set forth in the instant affidavit, I have probable cause to believe that ICP (Committee of Palestine) and WISE (World and Islam Enterprise) were utilized by Sami Al Arian and Ramadan Abdullah Shallah as "fronts" in order to enable individuals to enter the United States, in an apparent lawful fashion, despite the fact that these individuals were international terrorists. Among the unlawful methods employed by these terrorist organizations are the apparent lawful procurement and use of visas and other documents relating to immigration that enable terrorists and other excludable aliens to gain entry into the United States through false statements, misrepresentations, and other forms of fraud.35

Al Arian's immigration fraud extended to others within the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In September 1992, for example, Al Arian filed a petition for a temporary worker visa with the INS under false pretenses on behalf of Bashir Musa Nafi, one of the organization's original co-founders, who had worked for Palestinian Islamic Jihad at its London-based headquarters. The petition was granted, permitting Nafi to enter the country as a research director employed by WISE. In fact, the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) employed Nafi. His lie about IIIT on his INS petition led to his being deported to London in June 1996, only four days after his apprehension by immigration authorities.36 Six years later, in 2002, IIIT was investigated as part of a terror financing investigation of over 100 interconnected business enterprises, located mostly in northern Virginia.

The 1995 raid of Al Arian's offices also contributed to the eventual deportation of Mazen Al Najjar, Sami Al Arian's brother-in-law and a co-founder and the executive director of WISE.37 Al Najjar was editor of WISE's journal, Qira 'at Siyasiyyah (Political Readings)38 and attended numerous terror fundraising conferences. Al Najjar also committed a series of immigration violations, from a simple overstay of his student length of stay to his fraudulent marriage to an American woman for the purpose of obtaining permanent resident status. Prior to his deportation, Al Najjar was detained as a threat to U.S. national security.39

Though Al Najjar repeatedly denied that his work at WISE was terrorist-related, audiotapes such as one from 1991 have Al Najjar calling for "the unification of efforts of the national and Islamic forces in the struggle, to face the new dangerous challenges to the Palestinian cause, the central cause of the Muslim Ummah."40 Al Najjar's deportation was ordered on May 13, 1997, but he was not deported until 2002.

Y's_habibitk · March 18, 2008

How does this apply to my quote, please?

Also, how can one apply for AOS if the beneficiary has never been to the US? What exactly was she adjusting?

Second, cant she asked for an islamic divorce by means that he has been "away" form her for an exdended period? I think this is grounds. Someone correct me if Im wrong here please. After solid, proven efforts to get US divorce papers signed by the other party, you can move forward with it on your own. (again, someone please correct me if Im wrong) It seems that you wouldnt be "trapped" in a marriage by (by US laws and standards) just because the other party wont sign ????

:blink:

Lisa

JVKn'CVO · March 18, 2008

Yeah, your relationship has to be strong to stand against the public eye. We are pretty lucky I think because our close circle has been very supportive, so that helps. I think googling for marriage success rates, USC-non USC couples have an 80% success rate versus 50% of USC-USC couples, but I'm yet to find a solid study on the subject, I think it's more of an internet myth.

Saludos,

Caro

Y's_habibitk · March 18, 2008

I DO understand that this happens VERY often, I am just curious as to HOW often it happens... ALOT of the proven fraud is commited by BOTH parties.

I told an EX friend of mine that I was traveling to Jordan to meet habibi.... he said straight up to me "I can find you someone who will pay you to marry him and get a greencard" ( he has lots of family in Jordan) :blink:

I was completely shocked!!! Not that I didnt think this went on, but this guy..whom I thought would say something like congrats! Went into this 20 minute long speech about how he could find me some guy to marry and if it worked out.. fine, if not Id have my money anyway! "You can live together, or he can pay for your rent wherever you want to live"

I said I wanted to marry for love, not fraud and money!!!!

Needless to say this guy is not my friend any longer. and now my husband wants to give him the biggest dadora hee hee

Im not saying all this because I was lucky enough to find true love 6500 miles away... I am just curious.. my mind works well with hard figures, what can I say. I try not to personalize too much

So, maybe Ill preform my own study.. it will take many years and extensive travel. lol I'll publish the results when Im done ha ha ha

Lisa

Y's_habibitk · March 18, 2008

You are lucky to have a supportive circle.. I wish all the happiness to you guys!

Hmm intersting figures, I think I need to look into this further. lol.. because Im a geek

Lisa

JVKn'CVO · March 18, 2008

hehe I'm too :blush:

Good luck to you too! I'm sure you guys are anxious to be together again

Saludos,

Caro

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