Trump Administration Charges 11 in Green Card Marriage Fraud Scheme

The Trump administration announced charges against 11 individuals in connection with a fraudulent scheme involving green card marriages. This operation allegedly facilitated over a thousand sham marriages, predominantly aiding Chinese nationals in acquiring permanent legal status in the U.S.

Details of the Scheme

The Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that this scheme, which spanned a decade, involved individuals paying up to $100,000 to marry U.S. citizens. This led to hundreds of fraudulent green cards issued from 2016 to July 2026. Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) stated that the scheme had turned marriage fraud into an international business model. Through collaboration with the Homeland Security Task Force, efforts are ongoing to dismantle such criminal enterprises that undermine legal frameworks and capitalize on fraud.

Focus on Immigration Fraud

Under the Trump administration, there has been an emphasis on working with HSI to identify and prosecute cases of immigration fraud, notably those involving green cards and citizenship.

Sham Marriage Scheme: Who Was Charged?

Eleven defendants, all from New York, were arrested. They are:

• Amy Cheng, also known as “Amy Zhou,” 72, from Brooklyn
• Xiao Mei Chan, also known as “Carmen,” 64, from Queens
• Christine Lu, also known as “Lily,” 52, from Queens
• Jing Yan Ye, also known as “Serene,” 43, from Staten Island
• Xiao Yan Chen, also known as “Anna,” 48, from Brooklyn
• Gang Zheng, also known as “Michael” and “Mike,” 61, from Queens
• Anthony Cheng, 47, from Staten Island
• Michelle Duenas, 35, from Staten Island
• Angela Duenas, 26, from Staten Island
• Sigrid Cetino, 32, from Peekskill
• Erika Johnson, 43, from Ossining

All face charges of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, and conspiracy to encourage unlawful residence of aliens in the U.S. Convictions could lead to five to ten years of imprisonment.

Operations Across the U.S.

The marriages reportedly occurred not only in New York but also in states such as Connecticut, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

How the Scheme Operated

Authorities claim the defendants advertised their services via word-of-mouth, social media, and other channels, promising immigrants lawful permanent status through bogus marriages. Foreign nationals allegedly paid up to $100,000, while recruiters and facilitators received commissions for securing U.S. citizens willing to participate.

Prosecutors suggest organizers enlisted Americans for purely transactional marriages, sometimes paying tens of thousands to pose as legitimate spouses. To feign authenticity, defendants allegedly organized wedding ceremonies, photo shoots, and events at restaurants with traditional attire, using these as evidence for immigration officers.

The indictment accuses the network of crafting and filing fraudulent immigration documents to persuade officials of the marriages’ legitimacy. Prosecutors describe this operation as a vast and lucrative enterprise, facilitating over 1,000 fake marriage arrangements.

U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald for the Southern District of New York remarked that these arrests have dismantled a significant component of one of the largest marriage fraud schemes prosecuted in U.S. history. The case underscores the relentless pursuit of individuals aiming to manipulate and misuse the nation’s legal immigration system for profiteering.