A federal grand jury has charged 11 individuals in a nationwide marriage fraud scheme that orchestrated more than 1,000 fake ceremonies to secure fraudulent immigration credentials for foreign nationals, predominantly from Red China. The indictment states the deceptive marriages cost victims up to $100,000.
The charges follow President Donald Trump’s executive order issued six days ago targeting birth tourism—a practice where pregnant foreign women travel to the United States near term to give birth and secure citizenship for their children. However, federal authorities have yet to arrest state and local officials who refuse cooperation with immigration enforcement efforts.
According to a Justice Department (DOJ) summary of the indictment, from 2016 through 2026, the fraudsters operated an international network arranging sham marriages between foreign nationals—primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China—and U.S. citizens. The scheme spanned numerous states and two countries.
The DOJ reported that the network, headquartered in New York City, conducted fraudulent marriages across the United States and overseas, including in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Vanuatu, and China. The operation involved facilitators who identified foreign clients, recruiters who located willing U.S. citizens, and assistants who prepared fraudulent Green Card applications for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The scheme also relied on marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers, insurance providers, and other service providers.
The sham marriages could cost up to $100,000. Participants collected between $5,000 and $30,000 from foreign nationals through installments tied to milestones in the Green Card application process. Hundreds of individuals entered into the fake marriages, with defendants pairing foreign nationals and U.S. citizens as soon as possible before obtaining marriage licenses. They staged wedding ceremonies and fabricated photographs to make the unions appear legitimate.
After ceremonies, scheme participants created false evidence—including additional photographs, joint financial accounts, tax returns, and insurance policies—to support the fraudulent marriages. Defendants then submitted Green Card applications containing materially false statements and coached participants on how to answer immigration officials during interviews. The indictment alleges hundreds of fraudulent applications were submitted to USCIS, with the network reportedly collecting tens of millions of dollars from foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent residency.
The two-count indictment charges the 11 defendants with conspiracy to commit marriage and immigration fraud and conspiracy to encourage unlawful residence in the United States. The first offense carries a potential five-year prison term; the second could result in up to ten years in federal prison. The DOJ website features photographs of the fake marriages.
Another federal violation involves birth tourism. A pregnant foreign woman arrives in the U.S. near term, gives birth, and secures citizenship for her child. Trump’s August 6 executive order seeks to curb such schemes. The order states: “Birth tourism operators use deceptive advertisements and inducements to entice foreign nationals to travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth on American soil.” These operators promise citizenship, access to public benefits, and short-term stays but often fail to deliver. They coach clients to misrepresent their travel purposes to border officials.
The order grants the secretary of state authority to block entry of birth tourists, including by withholding visas. However, federal authorities have not arrested sanctuary jurisdiction officials who refuse cooperation with immigration enforcement. Border czar Tom Homan repeatedly warned such officials face prosecution under 8 U.S.C. 1324 for harboring aliens.