DALLAS, Texas — A former U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer faces federal charges for allegedly accepting payments to improperly approve immigration applications, allowing applicants to bypass required steps for green cards, family petitions and citizenship.
A federal grand jury indicted Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, a former senior USCIS immigration services officer, and his associate, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
Prosecutors allege that Ganiyu used his official position from December 2019 through March 2026 to approve immigration applications in exchange for money.
The applications included family-based petitions, green card applications, petitions to remove conditions on permanent residence and naturalization applications.
According to prosecutors, Ganiyu bypassed required interviews, supervisory reviews, jurisdictional restrictions, background checks and other USCIS processing procedures.
Investigators also allege that Ganiyu and Somoye collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from applicants, with many payments connected to immigration approvals that Ganiyu issued.
Alleged scheme
USCIS handles federal immigration benefits, including permanent residency, family petitions and naturalization applications.
Prosecutors said the case involved thousands of WhatsApp messages and phone calls between the defendants and applicants.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said the allegations showed that Ganiyu violated his responsibilities as a public servant and that the defendants’ actions compromised the immigration system.
“Their actions, as alleged, corrupted the integrity of our immigration system and jeopardized national security by letting individuals evade essential vetting requirements,” Raybould said.
A federal criminal complaint filed Aug. 31 initially charged Ganiyu and Somoye with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities as public officials.
Federal agents arrested both men on Sept. 2.
Questions over affected applications
The case also raises questions about immigration applications that prosecutors say may have bypassed required safeguards.
The Justice Department did not disclose how many applications the alleged scheme affected or whether federal officials have started reviewing applications that Ganiyu approved.
The indictment contains allegations against Ganiyu and Somoye, and the charges remain subject to court proceedings.