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USCIS Creates Criminal Unit to Pursue Immigration Fraud Nationwide

5/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

USCIS launched a criminal investigative unit with law-enforcement authority, a historic step.
Director Joseph Edlow announced 1811-classified agents will pursue immigration fraud nationwide, program active.
Agents can arrest, execute warrants and manage cases without default ICE referral.
DOJ will file denaturalization suits against citizens who used sham marriages, false IDs or crimes, after Shield in Minneapolis-St. Paul examined 1,000 applications and flagged 275 fraud cases, lacking a statute of limitations.

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Story summary

USCIS launched a criminal investigative unit with law-enforcement authority, a historic step.
Director Joseph Edlow announced 1811-classified agents will pursue immigration fraud nationwide, program active.
Agents can arrest, execute warrants and manage cases without default ICE referral.
DOJ will file denaturalization suits against citizens who used sham marriages, false IDs or crimes, after Shield in Minneapolis-St. Paul examined 1,000 applications and flagged 275 fraud cases, lacking a statute of limitations.