By — Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/watch-ag-blanche-announces-charges-over-green-card-scheme-involving-sham-marriages Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: AG Blanche announces charges over green card scheme involving 'sham' marriages Nation Aug 12, 2026 6:11 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Justice has charged nearly a dozen people with participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to help hundreds of Chinese nationals fraudulently obtain green cards through sham marriages to U.S. citizens, officials said Wednesday. Watch the news conference in the video player above. American citizens were paid as much as $30,000 to enter into bogus marriages with immigrants seeking lawful permanent resident status as part of the scheme orchestrated from New York, according to court papers. The defendants charged up to $100,000 per green card, bringing in tens of millions of dollars over the course of the decade-long scheme, according to officials. READ MORE: Trump's latest immigration move clouds the path to green cards Authorities say they believe the group arranged more than 1,000 sham weddings, describing it as one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in U.S. history. "This scheme was not a quick, fly-by-night operation but rather a yearslong, multibillion dollar cottage industry to criminally assist people who would not, or legally could not, otherwise become citizens of the United States," Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters. The charges come against the backdrop of the Trump administration's restrictions on both legal and illegal immigration that have sought to crack down on who is able to enter the country or become a citizen. After recruiting U.S. citizens, the defendants would arrange fake weddings and in some cases stage photos of families at places such as restaurants afterward to make them look legitimate, according to officials. The defendants would then help the immigrants through the lawful permanent status application process. "These schemes have real cost. They rob our country of its ability to know who should be and who should not be allowed in America," Blanche said. The 11 defendants, including people accused of officiating the sham weddings, are charged in an indictment filed in New York. It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether they had lawyers to speak on their behalf. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Justice has charged nearly a dozen people with participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to help hundreds of Chinese nationals fraudulently obtain green cards through sham marriages to U.S. citizens, officials said Wednesday. Watch the news conference in the video player above. American citizens were paid as much as $30,000 to enter into bogus marriages with immigrants seeking lawful permanent resident status as part of the scheme orchestrated from New York, according to court papers. The defendants charged up to $100,000 per green card, bringing in tens of millions of dollars over the course of the decade-long scheme, according to officials. READ MORE: Trump's latest immigration move clouds the path to green cards Authorities say they believe the group arranged more than 1,000 sham weddings, describing it as one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in U.S. history. "This scheme was not a quick, fly-by-night operation but rather a yearslong, multibillion dollar cottage industry to criminally assist people who would not, or legally could not, otherwise become citizens of the United States," Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters. The charges come against the backdrop of the Trump administration's restrictions on both legal and illegal immigration that have sought to crack down on who is able to enter the country or become a citizen. After recruiting U.S. citizens, the defendants would arrange fake weddings and in some cases stage photos of families at places such as restaurants afterward to make them look legitimate, according to officials. The defendants would then help the immigrants through the lawful permanent status application process. "These schemes have real cost. They rob our country of its ability to know who should be and who should not be allowed in America," Blanche said. The 11 defendants, including people accused of officiating the sham weddings, are charged in an indictment filed in New York. It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether they had lawyers to speak on their behalf. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now