Former USCIS Officer Arrested for Alleged Immigration Benefits Scheme

A former U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer has been arrested and charged in a purported scheme to sell immigration benefits, including green cards. Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu was apprehended on September 2, accused of engaging in a corruption scheme related to immigration applications.

Federal prosecutors claim that from December 2019 to March 2026, Ganiyu unlawfully leveraged his position at USCIS to approve immigration applications in exchange for money. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas stated that he expedited applications for permanent residency and citizenship by bypassing essential federal review protocols.

The applications implicated in the misconduct allegedly involved Form I-485, which applicants use to seek lawful permanent resident status or a green card. Additional petitions included family sponsorship, removal of residency conditions, and naturalization.

Ganiyu, along with his alleged co-conspirator Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, reportedly engaged in extensive WhatsApp communications to arrange these illicit activities. Prosecutors assert that they collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from involved applicants. Somoye faced arrest on September 2 as well.

“Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould commented in a press release. “When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately. Public corruption will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.”

The USCIS emphasized their stance against corruption in a public post, stating, “There is no place in this agency for corruption, abuse of authority, or violations of public trust.”

This situation is evolving; further updates will be provided as they become available.