Immigration Officer Impersonator Charged in Years-Long Visa Fraud Scheme

Federal authorities have arrested a 29-year-old Texas woman accused of orchestrating an elaborate immigration fraud scheme that exploited people seeking U.S. visas and employment with federal agencies.

Mayra Collins, a Brownsville resident, faces multiple federal charges including two counts of wire fraud and three counts of impersonating a federal agent, according to Acting U.S. Attorney John Marck. If convicted, Collins could receive up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud charges and an additional three years for impersonation, along with potential fines reaching $250,000.

According to the Department of Justice, Collins allegedly posed as a federal immigration officer who could expedite U.S. visa applications for a fee. The scheme targeted at least four victims who paid Collins believing she had legitimate connections within immigration agencies. In a separate scheme in 2025, she allegedly impersonated a Border Patrol agent with hiring authority, convincing at least one victim to send money for uniforms and ballistic vests for a nonexistent job position.

“Collins never worked for the United States and had no power to provide victims of her schemes with visas or employment with Border Patrol,” the DOJ stated in its announcement. Collins is scheduled to make her initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Julie Hampton this Thursday.

The case highlights growing concerns about immigration fraud, particularly in border regions like Brownsville, which sits at the southernmost tip of Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border. The city has been a focal point for immigration enforcement and border security operations, making its residents potentially vulnerable to such schemes.

Immigration policy expert Lora Ries from the Heritage Foundation told Fox News Digital that the complexity of immigration laws and the fragmented nature of immigration bureaucracy across multiple federal departments create opportunities for fraudsters. “This perpetrator exploiting that confusing and scattered system is a consequence of their own making,” Ries said, suggesting that Congress should “greatly simplify immigration law and consolidate many of the immigration agencies” to prevent such fraud.

The arrest comes amid broader federal crackdowns on immigration-related fraud across the country. In a separate operation, federal officials recently conducted raids on 22 businesses in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as part of a major fraud investigation. These raids reportedly focused on Somali-owned businesses, including childcare facilities allegedly billing for services they weren’t providing.

Vice President JD Vance, who heads the administration’s fraud task force, vowed that the “task force and the DOJ will be relentless in exposing these fraudsters wherever they may be hiding.”

Immigration fraud schemes typically target vulnerable populations who may not fully understand the complex U.S. immigration system or who are desperate for help navigating bureaucratic processes. Perpetrators often prey on immigrant communities where victims might be less likely to report crimes due to language barriers, fear of authorities, or concerns about their own immigration status.

Law enforcement agencies regularly warn about the prevalence of immigration scams, which can include false promises of expedited processing, claims of special connections within government agencies, or guarantees of work visas or permanent residency.

For Collins’ alleged victims, the financial losses are compounded by dashed hopes of obtaining legal immigration status or employment. Federal authorities have not disclosed the total amount allegedly defrauded from victims in this case, but immigration scams can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per victim.

The case underscores the importance of consulting only licensed immigration attorneys or accredited representatives when seeking assistance with immigration matters, officials advise. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides resources for verifying legitimate immigration service providers and reporting suspected fraud.