Amara Dukuly, a former immigration officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, pleaded guilty on Mar. 25 before United States District Judge John M. Younge to aiding and abetting the bribery of a public official in exchange for an official act, according to an announcement by United States Attorney David Metcalf.
The case highlights concerns about integrity within federal agencies responsible for handling sensitive immigration matters. Bribery cases involving public officials can undermine trust in government processes and raise questions about oversight.
According to court filings, Dukuly, age 44 of Woodlyn, Pennsylvania, used his position at USCIS from approximately 2015 until his arrest in June 2025 to solicit bribes from individuals seeking assistance with their immigration status. On April 4, 2025, he accepted a $6,000 bribe from someone who wanted “terrorist” references removed from their immigration file. Dukuly told the individual that once these references were deleted the file would be “clean.”
Dukuly is scheduled for sentencing on July 14 and could face up to fifteen years in prison if given the maximum penalty allowed by law.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Anita Eve and Robert Livermore are prosecuting the case.
