A former US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official and his associate have been charged over an alleged six-year scheme to fast-track immigration applications in exchange for bribes.
The two suspects were arrested on Wednesday, according to a statement issued on Friday by the US Attorney’s Office in Texas.
Prosecutors allege that the former USCIS official and his associate operated the scheme over several years, using their positions and connections to expedite immigration applications for applicants who allegedly paid bribes.
The charges mark a significant development in the US government’s efforts to crack down on corruption and abuse of the immigration application process.
The identities of the former official and his associate, as well as the specific charges filed against them, were not disclosed in the information provided by the US Attorney’s Office.
The case will now proceed through the US judicial system, where the allegations against both defendants will be tested in court.
