Fake Immigration Officer Indicted for Taking Cash from Illegal Workers

A fake Miami immigration officer by the name 'Val' has been accused of duping dozens of undocumented workers in the name of getting paperwork and will now face trial in the court. The so-called immigration agent promised undocumented workers real Florida driver licenses for $2,000 per person. The offer was a welcomed and much-needed option for many undocumented immigrants who had been living and working in the US like they were not there. They gladly shell out $2,000 each, but the scheme has now been blown open by federal investigators. Federal agents have made about 20 secret arrests involving payment for such phony documents over the past few months. Just this Tuesday, two men were convicted of the crime. Federal prosecutors said Val is not a real immigration officer who is now facing a fraud charge and will face trial in Miami federal court this month. This situation underlines the enormous efforts undocumented immigrants put in to get their papers against the usual negative perspective of the current administration.

American like Anyone else

Bob Pardo, a criminal defense attorney, said the undocumented immigrants are good people but are desperate to get normalcy in the country. They are as American as anyone - hard working people who pay their taxes, he said. The defense lawyer of the 47-year-old man said they are looking into the evidence and allegations presented by the government as they look forward to trial on February 19. In 2004, Val faced two charges of grand theft, but fortunately for him, the case has not deemed a conviction. In the latest incident, he faces an inevitable conviction case of posing as an immigration officer with a law enforcement badge and a seeming government identification card in his custody according to federal agents. Stay in touch and get alerts & emails directly in your inbox by subscribing to Visa Crimes Check here for our latest immigration updates, local immigration activities, emerging trends, visa news updates for Australia, Canada, US, UK, Germany and more.