U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans collaborated with federal and local law enforcement agencies to investigate a bribery scheme related to immigration benefit fraud. The investigation resulted in the indictment of several Louisiana law enforcement officers and a business owner. These individuals are accused of being involved in a scheme that manipulated U visa applications, intended for noncitizen crime victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana announced the charges on July 15. According to the indictment, those charged allegedly accepted cash payments in return for signing or facilitating false victimization claims.
Eric DeLaune, HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge, stated, “We are grateful for our partners to keep Louisiana safe and stop those exploiting the immigration system.” ICE emphasized its commitment to maintaining the integrity of immigration systems and ensuring accountability for those who exploit them.