Asylum fraud tactic: Tell them you’re gay
I’ve reported on many types of asylum fraud over the years (see asylum archives here). This one takes the cake. Via the Seattle Times:
A Kent couple who claimed to be experts in immigration cases advised clients to falsely claim to be gay and subject to persecution or even death if they returned home so they could win asylum in the U.S., according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Steven and Helena Mahoney were arrested Tuesday after an investigation that began in September, according to federal officials. Prosecutors allege the couple claimed to be experts in immigration cases while operating Mahoney and Associates in Kent.
The Mahoneys — who are not licensed to practice law in the state of Washington — are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. Steven Mahoney also has been charged with three counts of immigration fraud, according to the indictment.
They appeared Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler, who ordered Steven Mahoney to be held pending a detention hearing on Friday. Helena Mahoney was released.
The judge set the trial for Jan. 29.
The indictment alleges that in at least three instances the Mahoneys told immigrants to falsely state they were homosexual on immigration documents and that they feared persecution or even death if they returned to their own countries.
The three victims are identified only by initials, and the indictment does not indicate what countries they were from.
In one instance, involving an individual identified only as A.K., Steven Mahoney is alleged to have advised him to say on immigration applications that he was gay and that the militia in his country had attempted to rape his wife because of it, according to the indictment. Helena Mahoney allegedly helped the man obtain “documents about the gay community to assist A.K. in preparing for his asylum interview,” the indictment alleges.
Another immigrant, identified as G.V., reportedly submitted documents to the immigration officials claiming that he was afraid he would be maimed if he returned to his homeland “when in truth … G.V. was not afraid of such maiming,” according to the indictment.
It’s not clear whether any of the three immigrants mentioned in the indictment was granted asylum status and allowed to stay in the U.S.
Not that it matters. We know what happens when many asylum applicants are rejected and ordered home:
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I thought there was a gay DNA test?
There is a test for gayness, I call it the gary test. Bring in gary and have the subject demonstrate his gayness with gary. (My apologies to striaght men named gary, just picked the name randomly)
When my grandmother came to this country from Ireland in the early 20th century, she had to have a sponsor and a job waiting for her. Otherwise, no entry.
Now, just lie on all the forms and you’ll get in.
Hey, can I provide a list of forms on which I’d like to lie and see if I can get away with it? Maybe a 1040 form?
No, that’s perjury. Besides, liberals don’t care if you lie on any form, but if you fail to pay your socialist income tax, watch out!
Three instances of having these guys lie about being gay? A good test would be to bring in all three and see what happens.
No. You just have sing a few show tunes and be able to recite the synopsis of at least one episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy or Will and Grace.
No surprise here – gays are a protected class. Now, if you said you were a Conservative they would make sure you were sent back to be persecuted, tortured, or executed.
Holy crap, you just proved me gay.
aaarrrrgggggghhhhhh I better go back to the porn bailout thread.
Yeah, well, Sonofdy #2.
Too little too late.
But I did get your point.
(next time use Barney…or Frank)
The Prop 8 mob must be made aware that their continued insanity in the face of a political loss is only increasing the likelihood of going into such asylums.
Being an illegal alien is bad. Being stuck in a gay prison on top of it can’t be an improvement.
Another example of our dysfunctional immigration system. Anyone above an IQ level of 55 could figure out the loopholes. There are no standards applied for the most prized possession we have. Citizenship of the most free and prosperous country in the world. Though it won’t be for long if we continue to import 3rd world values. And yes, I know it was the lawyers in this article but I put them just below pond scum in the hierarchy of life too. Sorry Chap ol boy.
Wow, a new futuristic meeting based on the Kurt Russell classic called, “Escape to San Francisco.”
Could we re-direct the money for The Fence?
oops movie =
meetingSorry…..long day.
This country granting Asylum was one of it’s bigger mistakes. The Soviet Union used that non-sense to dump even more spies on us and empty their prisons. Then there was Jimmy Carter’s bluff to Castro that WE lost.
And be sure Al Quada, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran are taking note. Unfortunately under We Are the World Barack Hussein, Allah be Praised, Obama for the next four years there may be no immigration laws to violate. I think I’ll drive on vacation for awhile.
Illegal immigrants can lie on their loan applications. They can lie on their drivers license applications. They can lie on their employment applications. If they paid taxes I am sure they would be able to lie on their W4, VA4 and 1040 forms. They can lie on their immigration applications if they bother to file one rather than just sneaking into the country. They can lie on their public housing applications. They can lie to hospitals and emergency rooms and not pay for services. I suppose they can lie on their library card applications too.
If citizen of this nation does any of those things we face criminal charges. I should renounce my American citizenship and sneak back into the country and join the game! In fact we should all do that just to prove the point. It’s not like DHS would be able to figure it out!
Wonder if they can get a Presidential Pardon “Pre-Emptive” from Bush. He seems to have a soft spot for Drug runners, dealers, cartel members and anyone who violates America’s Immigration laws. Seems like prime candidates for a pardon, based on those already given pardons by bush…
Bring in a real homosexual, and make them drop trou, bend over a table, and prove their gayness.
If they want to be in the country that badly…
EEEEWWWWW!!
Well, it still wouldn’t be actual proof. I think the APA used to say you had to have 6 homosexual experiences before you were really “gay.” But that was before the concept of “lesbians until graduation.” And they say people don’t choose their sexual orientation.
Huh? Must be New Jersey gay.
No, Dexter Alarius. That just proves these “misunderstood immigrants” are showing their diversity! They’re gay AND they have wives! It’s all inclusive.
However, I’m still trying to determine how conflicted they would have been voting on Prop 8…
Michelle, anyone who tells you that conservatives do not have a sense of humor have never read your comments section. I love you guys and your senses of humor. When I need a chuckle, I come and read the witty reparte here from your brilliant commenters.
Meh, just like back at the Madrassah.
Three sex threads in a row, Michelle. Aniversary, 2nd honeymoon? Husband buy you flowers?
Yeah, I am surprised it is ONLY three in a row. After all there are more than 20 Democrat governors so statistically we should have several sex scandals a month!
Please keep me here so I can threaten Mormon Churches. The U.S. is the only country that will tolerate my perversion.
GEES!
I’ll b ready for that cold san mig next month, war tip.
Shouldn’t Gaydar be able to spot the true ones from the fakes?
I think the Gaydar was part of the DHS sponsored “virtual fence.” You know, that was the project that was 100 times more expensive and took longer to build than an physical fence but never actually worked…
Isn’t this the anti of “don’t ask-don’t tell?”
Would it be “wrong” to say that sometimes you “feel gay” and fear potential persecution, or at least a disapproving look from your mother, because of that?
Eh, did I miss something? Was that a special code for those pretending to be gay to get through immigration?
There once was a couple from Kent
Who advised immigration laws to be bent
They said ‘claim to be gay
And they’ll not send you away’
And hopefully to jail, they went.
Where is the wisdom that justifies allowing in asylees, refugees, etc. IN ADDITION to the hundreds of thousands legal immigrants and illegal aliens each MONTH?
What are these people going to do in an economy where 400k jobs lost is considered a “good” month? Allowing in large numbers of people only decreases the job prospects of Americans (and legal immigrants) and intensifies competition for jobs. It doesn’t make any sense given the current economic situation.
When is America (the US, for those confused by the historic and conventional use of the term…) going to say – “Ok, enough already. We have to sort our own problems out FIRST for a change…”?
I’ve worked in this field before and studied heavily in law school. Lawyers have alot of power in this field and your talking about alot of people who have real fears of being persecuted. Basically these guys could have had convincing cases just as they were, but if your lawyer’s telling you that saying your gay is a guaranteed way in, then the client will say it without doubt.
I’m not defending what the lawyers did, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Alot of asylum claims are heartbreaking and there’s alot of real people in real trouble applying for this with a few jagoffs screwing it up for the rest.
So they think that claiming to be gay will get you Political Asylum here in the United States?
Are they kidding? Have they NOT been watching the news here since November?
Gays are apparently no better off here than they are in Iran…if, in fact, there was anyone who is gay in Iran since their fearless leader claimed there is not.
Therefore, they cannot claim asylum here, since to do so may, in fact, create even more problems…especially since they are not allowed to marry here…thanks to all us Nazi-esque people who believe in Traditional Marriage.
Hey, if that flies then every alpha-male who has ever been turned down for employment should file complaints of sexism with the EEOC.
Does being “outed” from a closet that I was never allow me to claim a special victim status too after my final military command violated don’t ask-don’t tell?
I am straight, and proud of it!
GSP
“This is Sparta!”
A couple of things:
1. Up until the late ’80s, being a homosexual was a reason to keep people out of the US. It was considered an “immoral act”. Now, it is prima facie evidence for a granting of asylum. There was a court case about 10 years ago where a person was given asylum based on persecution due to sexuality. A precedent was set.
2. Believe it or not, the standards for a legal immigrant have changed little since the end of WW2. I hear this a lot, “when my mother came here, she had to have a sponsor, be financially stable and ensure that her presence wouldnt’ be a burden”. Well, in most instances, that is true today. However, the key word there is legal. What has happened is that there is very little penalty for being here illegally – so, why not. Wait long enough and CIS will find you a benefit. The most common advice given by Immigration Attorneys, “Just get here, we will take care of the rest.”
3. In 1996, the US Government was mandated to solicit an asylum claim from every illegal alien intercepted at a Port or by the Border Patrol. It is no longer called asylum. It is titled “credible fear”. The standards for asylum are much higher than “fear”. Once an illegal claims to have a fear of any kind upon return, they are held for a hearing. Now, a non-criminal alien is being detained and ICE needs bed space for convicted criminals. Guess what happens next..
4. Every time Amnesty or Temporary Protected Status is brought up by politicians, the numbers of illegals crossing our borders jumps through the roof because they know they have to “be here” when the law is enacted. Even talking about it destroys our integrity.