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Federal authorities have arrested a former Minnesota corrections officer as part of a nationwide operation targeting immigration fraud, officials announced this week.
Morris Brown, a 45-year-old Liberian national, was taken into custody on January 15 in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Brown violated multiple immigration laws, including overstaying his student visa and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
Federal immigration officials detailed that Brown initially entered the United States in 2014 on a non-immigrant student visa. However, that visa was terminated in 2015 when he failed to maintain a full course of study as required by his visa conditions.
Brown’s immigration violations extend beyond his student status. USCIS reports that he enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2014 despite lacking legal immigration status. Military records show he went AWOL (absent without official leave) the following year, eventually leading to his apprehension and discharge from military service under “other-than-honorable conditions” in 2022.
In 2020, Brown attempted to secure permanent residency through the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness program. This program was established to provide a pathway to permanent residency for qualifying Liberian nationals who had been living in the United States for an extended period. However, his application was denied after officials discovered misrepresentations in his paperwork, including his failure to disclose his prior military service and making false claims of U.S. citizenship.
Despite these setbacks, Brown continued his attempts to remain in the country. In 2024, he applied for naturalization as a U.S. citizen, claiming eligibility based on his military service.
USCIS investigators examining Brown’s citizenship application uncovered multiple infractions, including evidence of marriage fraud and multiple instances where he falsely claimed U.S. citizenship on official documents. Perhaps most concerning to authorities was the discovery that Brown had secured employment as a corrections officer with the Minnesota Department of Corrections despite having no legal immigration status.
“Operation Twin Shield continues to deliver results as the Department of Homeland Security relentlessly pursues those who seek to cheat our immigration system,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. “This alien tried every trick in the book to remain in the United States after losing legal status. We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure he faces justice for his many violations of the law.”
The Minnesota Department of Corrections confirmed that Brown worked for the agency from May 2023 to October 2025. Department officials stated they cooperated fully with federal authorities, providing Brown’s employment eligibility documents to USCIS last month.
The DOC maintained that it followed all federally mandated employment verification procedures when hiring Brown, suggesting that the falsified documents provided by Brown were sophisticated enough to pass standard verification protocols.
“If these federal allegations are accurate, this individual engaged in sophisticated efforts to misrepresent their identity, extending well beyond Minnesota,” said DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell. “We are grateful to USCIS and ICE for their work in investigating and addressing immigration fraud. We will continue to comply with federal law and work professionally with our federal partners.”
Brown now faces removal proceedings and potential criminal prosecution for immigration fraud, false claims to U.S. citizenship, and related offenses. His case highlights ongoing concerns about vulnerabilities in employment verification systems and the challenges federal agencies face in detecting sophisticated immigration fraud schemes.
Operation Twin Shield, under which Brown was arrested, represents a coordinated federal effort to identify and prosecute individuals who attempt to circumvent U.S. immigration laws through fraudulent means.
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8 Comments
Immigration fraud is a serious issue that must be addressed. Falsifying citizenship claims and military service records is a grave abuse of the system. Robust measures are required to identify and prosecute such criminal behavior.
Interesting case of immigration fraud. It’s concerning to see someone with this type of background being employed as a corrections officer. Proper vetting and background checks are clearly important to ensure the integrity of government agencies and programs.
This case highlights the importance of thorough background checks and ongoing monitoring, especially for positions of public trust. Loopholes and weaknesses in the system need to be closed to prevent further exploitation.
You’re right. Improved screening processes and information sharing between agencies could help catch these types of violations earlier. Accountability is key to maintaining the integrity of immigration and public service.
This is a troubling situation that underscores the need for robust immigration enforcement and oversight. Individuals exploiting the system for personal gain undermine the integrity of important institutions and programs.
It’s concerning to see these types of fraud cases involving government employees. Proper vetting and continuous review of credentials and status are essential to upholding the rule of law and public confidence.
This is a troubling situation. Individuals abusing the immigration system and exploiting government programs undermine public trust. Stronger enforcement and accountability measures are needed to prevent such fraudulent activities.
I agree. Immigration policies should be fair but also secure. Proper screening and verification of status is critical to maintaining the integrity of the system.