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Whistleblowers: US Gave Visas to Suspected Forgers, Fraudsters, Criminals

Ockham

Ockham

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ABC News said:
Feb 3, 2015, 7:30 AM ET
By BRIAN ROSS and MATTHEW MOSK
ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent
Investigative Reporter
via Nightline


Officials overseeing a federal program that offers an immigration short-cut to wealthy foreign investors have ignored pointed warnings from federal agents and approved visas for some immigrants suspected of having committed fraud, money laundering, and even one applicant with alleged ties to a child porn website, an ABC News investigation has found. The shortcomings prompted concerns within the Department of Homeland Security that the boutique immigration program would be exploited by terrorists, according to internal documents obtained by ABC News.
“It is shocking,” said Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican. “Particularly when you have F.B.I. and other law enforcement agencies that are saying national security could be compromised or is being compromised -- that's enough for us to be concerned.”
Five different Homeland Security whistleblowers spoke with ABC News about a range of cases where visas were approved despite numerous red flags. They said objections were often ignored because the immigration program is so popular within the Obama Administration and with members of Congress from both parties. Known as the EB-5 visa program, foreigners who are willing to invest $500,000 in an American business can jump to the front of the line and obtain legal status to live in the U.S. for two years. If the investment is shown to create at least 10 jobs, the investors can receive a “Green Card” -- permanent residency.

...

But an ABC News investigation found that in addition to reaching wealthy foreign investors, the program has become a magnet for those seeking to sidestep the scrutiny of the traditional immigration process. In one case, immigration officials pushed through a visa application from Chinese investor in a Las Vegas hotel project despite an internal review that found the investor had previously been turned back at the border, and much of his visa application had likely been fabricated, immigration records show.
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Whistleblowers: US Gave Visas to Suspected Forgers, Fraudsters, Criminals - ABC News

This can't be good for Americans or for the DHS. What would prompt the DHS to potentially compromise national security by doing such a thing? I don't know if it's illegal but if it's not, it sure as heck should be.
 
Ockham said:
Whistleblowers: US Gave Visas to Suspected Forgers, Fraudsters, Criminals - ABC News

This can't be good for Americans or for the DHS. What would prompt the DHS to potentially compromise national security by doing such a thing? I don't know if it's illegal but if it's not, it sure as heck should be.
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The EB 5 Visa Program, huh? Just buy their way to the Front of the line too.

How many have been speaking up about the compromise of National Security when it comes to Visas, tourist type visas too.

Then Passports and Immigration with the Border. How many agencies need to speak out before action is taken?
 
MMC said:
The EB 5 Visa Program, huh? Just buy their way to the Front of the line too.

How many have been speaking up about the compromise of National Security when it comes to Visas, tourist type visas too.

Then Passports and Immigration with the Border. How many agencies need to speak out before action is taken?
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I would venture to guess at least a few murders, maybe a foiled terrorist plot, perhaps a few hundred smuggled underage girls destined for prostitution.... something like that.
 
Ockham said:
I would venture to guess at least a few murders, maybe a foiled terrorist plot, perhaps a few hundred smuggled underage girls destined for prostitution.... something like that.
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Hire ten employees and get a perm. residency. Is that with a certain amount of time for them to be on the job?
 
MMC said:
Hire ten employees and get a perm. residency. Is that with a certain amount of time for them to be on the job?
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This is something that I would expect in a smaller country which is rife with corruption. You'll get pay offs, bribes to officials who will do what you want and make a very tidy living on that corruption while putting a smile on their government job. While I'm not naive - I know that this happens everywhere even in my dear America, to be so BRAZEN about it that Federal agencies knew and warned - and that 5 whistleblowers came out about it means this was not very well hidden. Maybe this is the new normal... :shrug:
 
MMC said:
Hire ten employees and get a perm. residency. Is that with a certain amount of time for them to be on the job?
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No. They have to work at least 35 hours per week. The person doesn't have to have the employees when they enter. They are given 2 years to get the business up and running and employees hired. They just need a business plan that makes it clear that 10 employees or more will be needed. If they do not hire them in the first 2 years, they lose their green card. It is $1M initial at risk investment unless you are locating in a high unemployment area, then it is the $500K.
 
Declan said:
No. They have to work at least 35 hours per week. The person doesn't have to have the employees when they enter. They are given 2 years to get the business up and running and employees hired. They just need a business plan that makes it clear that 10 employees or more will be needed. If they do not hire them in the first 2 years, they lose their green card. It is $1M initial at risk investment unless you are locating in a high unemployment area, then it is the $500K.
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Thanks for explaining that out Declan. :2wave: Yeah, that's what I was asking about.
 
MMC said:
Thanks for explaining that out Declan. :2wave: Yeah, that's what I was asking about.
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I don't like them. There are too many loopholes. They allegedly have to show the money was legit, but then it allows gift funds to be used. I think the whole idea is fraught with peril.
 
Declan said:
I don't like them. There are too many loopholes. They allegedly have to show the money was legit, but then it allows gift funds to be used. I think the whole idea is fraught with peril.
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I am in agreement with you, on that.
 
Obama is well known for prosecuting Whistleblowers. Beware, whistleblowers! :shock:
 
Ockham said:
Whistleblowers: US Gave Visas to Suspected Forgers, Fraudsters, Criminals - ABC News

This can't be good for Americans or for the DHS. What would prompt the DHS to potentially compromise national security by doing such a thing? I don't know if it's illegal but if it's not, it sure as heck should be.
Click to expand...

If you think that only democratic administrations are guilty, you're another partisan hack. They're all guilty, see.

An investigation by El Universal found that between the years 2000 and 2012, the U.S. government had an arrangement with Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel that allowed the organization to smuggle billions of dollars of drugs while Sinaloa provided information on rival cartels.

Read more: The U.S. Government And The Sinaloa Cartel - Business Insider
 
Montecresto said:
If you think that only democratic administrations are guilty, you're another partisan hack. They're all guilty, see.

An investigation by El Universal found that between the years 2000 and 2012, the U.S. government had an arrangement with Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel that allowed the organization to smuggle billions of dollars of drugs while Sinaloa provided information on rival cartels.

Read more: The U.S. Government And The Sinaloa Cartel - Business Insider
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Very similar material to what Gary Webb discovered regarding cocaine importing and the Contras and CIA, and which the CIA eventually admitted in public on the same day that the Lewinsky Scandal broke into the news. The CIA, and probably the DEA too, is in the drug business.

That's why the drug prohibition will remain in effect--too much money in it for rogue agents.
 
MMC said:
The EB 5 Visa Program, huh? Just buy their way to the Front of the line too.

How many have been speaking up about the compromise of National Security when it comes to Visas, tourist type visas too.

Then Passports and Immigration with the Border. How many agencies need to speak out before action is taken?
Click to expand...

I was wondering the same thing back in 2002 as reports were coming out from FBI field agents about suspicious activities by people of Middle Eastern descent that were ignored and phone calls to the FBI by flight schools revealing that there were people of Middle Eastern descent that wanted to learn how to fly jets, but were disinterested in learning how to land and take off. It seems that the government has a history of ignoring things that end up biting us in the ass.
 
Montecresto said:
I was wondering the same thing back in 2002 as reports were coming out from FBI field agents about suspicious activities by people of Middle Eastern descent that were ignored and phone calls to the FBI by flight schools revealing that there were people of Middle Eastern descent that wanted to learn how to fly jets, but were disinterested in learning how to land and take off. It seems that the government has a history of ignoring things that end up biting us in the ass.
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Well, most should have been concerned going back to the first attempt down in the Parking garage.....back when Bilbo dropped the ball. Just sayin.
 
MMC said:
Well, most should have been concerned going back to the first attempt down in the Parking garage.....back when Bilbo dropped the ball. Just sayin.
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Think I'd have any problem calling president Clinton out if you can document that he was ignoring warnings. And do you still confuse me for a partisan hack, only willing to criticise an administration of the opposite party?
 
Montecresto said:
If you think that only democratic administrations are guilty, you're another partisan hack. They're all guilty, see.
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First, way to be two weeks late in getting to this thread... second, where did I say I thought only democratic administrations are guilty - third: nice stawman bro.

Montecresto said:
An investigation by El Universal found that between the years 2000 and 2012, the U.S. government had an arrangement with Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel that allowed the organization to smuggle billions of dollars of drugs while Sinaloa provided information on rival cartels.
Click to expand...
If this investigation is worth the time to type it - when can I expect American DEA and Justice agents to be charged?
 
Montecresto said:
Think I'd have any problem calling president Clinton out if you can document that he was ignoring warnings. And do you still confuse me for a partisan hack, only willing to criticise an administration of the opposite party?
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I never thought ya was a hack Monte. Just a bit against the US that's all. Oh and as for Bilbo. An easy one, huh?




In early 2000, the documents informed America’s top intelligence analysts that al Qaeda had devised a sophisticated plan to hijack a commercial airliner departing Frankfurt International Airport between March and August 2000. The terrorist team was to consist of an Arab, a Pakistani and a Chechen, and their targets were U.S. Airlines, Lufthansa and Air France. The document pieces together an intricate plot directed by a 40-year-old Saudi, Sheik Dzabir, from a prominent family with ties to the House of Saud. It revealed that al Qaeda had actually penetrated the consular section of the German Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, relying on a contact referred to as “Mrs. Wagner” to provide European Union visas for use in forged Pakistani passports for the terrorists.

So, how did the Clinton administration respond? In the incriminating words of the intelligence information report, advanced warning of the plot “was disregarded because nobody believed that Osama bin Laden or the Taliban could carry out such an operation.”.....snip~

"The Lid": Bill Clinton Ignored Warnings Of Al-Qaeda Airplane Hijack/Attack
 
Ockham said:
First, way to be two weeks late in getting to this thread... second, where did I say I thought only democratic administrations are guilty - third: nice stawman bro.

If this investigation is worth the time to type it - when can I expect American DEA and Justice agents to be charged?
Click to expand...

Yes, well my apologies for only just finding it. Its a strawman to point out that both parties engage in this, hmm. And you think there's an American precedence of administrations prosecuting themselves, lol. Look at the timeline of the report.
 
Montecresto said:
Yes, well my apologies for only just finding it. Its a strawman to point out that both parties engage in this, hmm.
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No it's a strawman for bringing it up when I didn't even mention it in what you quoted from me. Had I brought that issue up, you might have had a point.
Montecresto said:
And you think there's an American precedence of administrations prosecuting themselves, lol. Look at the timeline of the report.
Click to expand...

Yes, well... that WAS my point actually.
 
MMC said:
I never thought ya was a hack Monte. Just a bit against the US that's all. Oh and as for Bilbo. An easy one, huh?




In early 2000, the documents informed America’s top intelligence analysts that al Qaeda had devised a sophisticated plan to hijack a commercial airliner departing Frankfurt International Airport between March and August 2000. The terrorist team was to consist of an Arab, a Pakistani and a Chechen, and their targets were U.S. Airlines, Lufthansa and Air France. The document pieces together an intricate plot directed by a 40-year-old Saudi, Sheik Dzabir, from a prominent family with ties to the House of Saud. It revealed that al Qaeda had actually penetrated the consular section of the German Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, relying on a contact referred to as “Mrs. Wagner” to provide European Union visas for use in forged Pakistani passports for the terrorists.

So, how did the Clinton administration respond? In the incriminating words of the intelligence information report, advanced warning of the plot “was disregarded because nobody believed that Osama bin Laden or the Taliban could carry out such an operation.”.....snip~

"The Lid": Bill Clinton Ignored Warnings Of Al-Qaeda Airplane Hijack/Attack
Click to expand...

Ok, so I'm against the US for pointing out that both parties have committed us to bad Middle Eastern policy, and you're only against half the US for pointing out that only democratic administrations are guilty of it. Fine, your a bit better than me then.
 
Ockham said:
No it's a strawman for bringing it up when I didn't even mention it in what you quoted from me. Had I brought that issue up, you might have had a point.

Yes, well... that WAS my point actually.
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Well then it turns out that you and I are on the same page. Disregard my earliest post.
 
Montecresto said:
Ok, so I'm against the US for pointing out that both parties have committed us to bad Middle Eastern policy, and you're only against half the US for pointing out that only democratic administrations are guilty of it. Fine, your a bit better than me then.
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Well it was coming off that way.....that's all I was saying. Once you were asked about those others and their actions. You say you aren't about giving them any pass either. So I am good with it, there.

Nah, I'm no better than you Monte. Just another voice out there. Although, sometimes I can create an echo. :cool:
 
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