Texas Nationals Arrested for Immigration Fraud
Two Pakistani nationals based in Texas have been arrested on charges related to a scheme involving immigration fraud and money laundering, including the use of fake job offers and dishonest visa applications, according to FBI director Kash Patel.
Abdul Hadi Maasid, 39, and Muhammad Salman Nasir, 35, face indictments alongside a Texas law firm and a company called Reliable Ventures Inc. The allegations encompass conspiracy to defraud the U.S., visa fraud, and money laundering. Maasid is also accused of attempting to acquire U.S. citizenship through these fraudulent means.
“This is a significant arrest made by @fbidallas. Abdul Hadi Maasid and Muhammad Salman Nasir allegedly led a criminal organization that bypassed American immigration laws by selling fake visa applications,” Patel stated.
According to the indictment, Maasid and Nasir reportedly profited by submitting bogus visa applications to assist individuals, referred to in court documents as “visa job seekers,” who wanted to illegally enter and remain in the U.S. They are accused of submitting false paperwork, misrepresenting job offers, and exploiting EB-2, EB-3, and H-1B visa programs to deceive immigration authorities.
To present a façade of legitimate job offers, the defendants allegedly satisfied U.S. Department of Labor requirements by publishing fictitious job advertisements and claiming to employ Americans. Once their applications were approved, they sought green cards for those intending to obtain visas.
Additionally, they are said to have accepted payments from visa applicants, often disguising those transactions as fake salaries, thus making the jobs appear legitimate.
“These defendants are alleged to have implemented extensive efforts to conceal a vast immigration fraud operation that provided them with significant financial gains,” U.S. attorney Chad Meacham remarked, noting that pursuing criminal charges is a primary focus.
FBI Dallas special agent R. Joseph Rothlock commented, “The defendants are accused of managing international criminal operations that consistently undermine our immigration laws, which are essential for national security and the integrity of the legal immigration process.”
Maasid and Nasir appeared in court on May 23. The government has requested that they remain in custody until their trial, scheduled for May 30.
If found guilty, the two men could face up to 20 years in prison, with Maasid also at risk of losing his U.S. citizenship.
