42 Eye-Opening, Shocking, Crazy, Happy & Fun Stories from a Retired U.S. Immigration Officer

This story collection is a revealing exploration of the American immigration system, focusing on stories of individuals who exploit the system, particularly through fraudulent marriages, to gain entry into the United States. The book highlights the tension between the nation's compassionate nature and the abuse of its immigration pathways. Beyond just exposing immigration fraud, it celebrates the resilience of the American spirit and its commitment to justice and fairness.

The book combines extensive research, personal accounts, and expert insights to unravel the complexities of immigration deception and its impact on individuals, families, and society. It also showcases the efforts of professionals dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the immigration process and the American dream for legitimate seekers.

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Excerpt from After the Border © Copyright 2023 Richard Lee

I discussed early the concept of one-sided immigration fraud and what we mean by one-sided marriage fraud. You find that people are sometimes fooled into believing that a marriage is good. Sometimes, people are desperate for love. These are often the people who are easily fooled. I have seen so many broken hearts where people genuinely believed it was love, no matter how many bad signs. They could not be convinced otherwise until it hit them square in the face.

When I first started, I was interviewing a couple. The woman had bad hygiene and was a heavy smoker. During our conversation, she admitted to having low self-esteem. She was so happy to have found a husband. Her husband was West African. He was attractive, well-dressed, and well-spoken. She thought he was in it for love, but in our conversation, you could tell she had doubts. Still, she was hopeful that she had won.

I interviewed them. Separated them and tried to determine if this marriage was legitimate. The U.S. spouse was adamant about the marriage and the fact that she loved him. I did not doubt that. Still, I did my best to see what kind of flaws there were. Maybe I was missing something.

What I learned is that they stayed apart during most weeks. He worked out of town and came home every other weekend. She understood and made the case that a lot of married couples have this arrangement. She admitted they had been intimate in the past, but not as much as she would like. When I finished the interview, I congratulated them, approved his permanent residence, and escorted them out the door. The female seemed a bit disturbed that I had questioned them at length about the marriage.

After the Border

As we went out the door, she asked for a business card and suggested she might contact my supervisor. I gave her my card and sent them on their way. I figured at some point I would hear about the complaint.

This was around 10 a.m. I went to lunch after the interview. When I returned, I received a call from the same woman. There was a great deal of background noise. She was crying and a bit hysterical. When I was able to talk and get her calmed down, she told me the story. After getting his legal residence that morning, the husband headed home. Somewhere on Interstate I-285, the perimeter around Atlanta, he decided to pull over and let her out of the car right on the interstate.

She told me he shoved her out of the car. He told her he had his green card and no longer needed her. So, he left her on the side of a busy interstate.

I passed the information on to fraud. As a Service Officer, I had closed the case. It had approved him. Based on her testimony. I could not just reverse that decision on the spot. Having spoken to local counsel, they recommended doing nothing more.

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