A federal immigration officer has been arrested after being accused of accepting bribes in exchange for immigration benefits, a situation that has allegedly been going on for nearly a decade.
Amara Duclee, 43, from Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, works for the US Office of Civil Rights (USCIS). She has been charged with bribery of a civil servant, specifically for supposedly accepting payments from immigrants to assist them in adjusting their immigration status, including obtaining green cards and work permits.
According to the charges, since 2015, Duclee has leveraged her position to solicit these bribes, promising favorable outcomes to individuals. However, court documents indicate that she lacked the authority to deliver on these promises.
US Attorney David Metcalf remarked that Duclee reportedly used the money received from these illegal transactions for personal gain. The exact number of migrants involved in these alleged bribery cases isn’t clear.
The investigation is currently being handled by multiple agencies, including the Homeland Security Agency’s Bureau and the FBI.
