Since the university was listed on the DHS website and the NJ DoE website of course foreign students are going to think it's legitimate even if they have doubts. This was entrapment, plain and simple. And the DHS used millions of tax payer money to do it. And to what end? Deport 1000 educated foreigners who had come to the US to study and who if able to be employed would contribute to our economy? Please spend our hard earned tax dollars working to protect the "security of our homeland" instead of enticing foreign students to commit fraud.
26
DHS come on...please spend tax payer's money and your time on those real criminals instead of these people who work hard and also pay tax..
9
Is something rotten at the DHS? Sting operations are a legitimate tool of law enforcement, but this one gives them a bad name.
8
I am wondering why all those who think students are guilty have the same last name started with B?
Reading all the comments really makes me worried. If our government is standing alongside with this kind of operations, and ok'ed this kind of "trapping money as fines" business, what kind of society America is turning into? As one of the people who loves America, it will be so sad to see such a turn for our great nation.
Reading all the comments really makes me worried. If our government is standing alongside with this kind of operations, and ok'ed this kind of "trapping money as fines" business, what kind of society America is turning into? As one of the people who loves America, it will be so sad to see such a turn for our great nation.
5
I don't think what the students did is illegal. Many programs offer practical training. Different programs have different course schedules and some friends of mine can register practical training alone for several semesters and take other classes in other semesters. So from my experience it is not odd at all that some students don't take other classes besides practical training for some semesters. Besides, from the article the law says that "the designated school officer can determine a full course of study". Apparently, their officer approved their training and admitted their status and they did what the officer approved. So why it is illegal now? Shouldn't it be legal according to the law? If there are some discrepancies in the law, we should change it and make it consistent and clear instead of chasing after those innocent students and set up the fake school without improving anything for THREE YEARS!!!
8
WOW..$$$$3000 to $$$$12000 per person. Around Ten Million return after three years' operation...Is it a new type of business that DHS is conducting for their employee's bonus? Hmm... I smell CORRUPTION.....
21
You do understand that the "Ten Million" was paid to brokers, not DHS and that is part of the fraud?
3
$10 Million is not enough. Why not set up a fake corporation, attract knowingly investors and then kick them out? It is a perfect way to earn money.
12
DHS's been running the school since 2013. There may be one foreign so-called student among the 1,076 ones, who's a true terrorist. Imagine how many terror bombings he/she possibily set up in such three years. The job for DHS is not to create loopholes but to fix them somehow, period.
3
it seems to me dhs is trying to catch those brokers who wanna make profit from this. I don't agree with you for the terrorist. Just by reading the application documents they submitted to school, you can't tell whether they are terrorists or not. It's the same as the other universities you or I attend. If a terror really wanna come to US, they'd better find a better school in order to get their visa approved...terrorists may not be all stupid, some of them might be smart and would be able to apply for good schools
4
This has nothing to do with identifying terrorists. It's about rooting out visa fraud.
5
Excatly, imaging how many bombs he or she could possiblly set off in 3 years! Thanks to DHS for runing this fake school for 3 years and maintaining the “terrorist" legal status to live here and even work here. To me DHS have done a lot to assit the imaginary "terrorist". If there is any terroirist isn't now a good for DHS to reveal them and show off their big win? Why they don't? Because that's just an excuse to justify their fraudullent entrapment activities. You can say anything, you can assume anything. Want people to believe you? Pfove it! Also, where do the millions of dollars of "tuition"go? Who is behind this Waterfall shell company? I'm interested.
2
Very impressive story, DHS operated a fake school and Shell Corporation to earn some money ($10 million) to their pocket.
Right now govt just ban them and kick them out....try to hide their cash flow?
Ahhh don't forget govt shutdown DHS last year because their budget.....it really doesn't make sense they need to take 3 yrs for this sting operation.
This story probably will show in the House of Cards next season.
Right now govt just ban them and kick them out....try to hide their cash flow?
Ahhh don't forget govt shutdown DHS last year because their budget.....it really doesn't make sense they need to take 3 yrs for this sting operation.
This story probably will show in the House of Cards next season.
18
When you lie to deceive those who have done it to you...You have become one of them.
2
Not sure it's just me or if I have misread this, but the article says the university claimed it has classes before DHS announced it was fake and provides no classes at all. Quote: "...and Twitter messages about classes canceled because of bad weather".
In that sense, even though it is doubtable on whether this sting operation is an entrapment for students in a legal term, it is an "entrapment" for the students in the fact. Presumably, We can see that before government shut down the university, students were only been told "you don't HAVE TO go to class" for some period of time when they were in CPT (or internship), but NOT been told the university NEVER had and won't going to have any classes. Being in the lie that the university may hold class somewhere, or in the future, and it was relatively new and totally legitimate, students could buy it and participate into this later known "scheme".
In that sense, even though it is doubtable on whether this sting operation is an entrapment for students in a legal term, it is an "entrapment" for the students in the fact. Presumably, We can see that before government shut down the university, students were only been told "you don't HAVE TO go to class" for some period of time when they were in CPT (or internship), but NOT been told the university NEVER had and won't going to have any classes. Being in the lie that the university may hold class somewhere, or in the future, and it was relatively new and totally legitimate, students could buy it and participate into this later known "scheme".
24
Literally the definition of entrapment. First, Set up a fake university for foreign students and then have the government's website that students use to verify a university says it's legit , bring all students get enrolled. Then when students feel something abnormal , get worried to check it out. everything government place they asked told them it's OK. And now the government tells them everything is not real, have their visas cancelled, threaten to arrest them, and mark them down as having entered on a fraud visa ensuring they will never get back. WHAT'S WRONG with this country. And WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO??? If on average, one student has paid $10,000, 1076 students may have paid 10 MILLION!. If the government is holding TENNNN MILLION without any explanation. WHO is actually doing the fraud?
19
People keep using the word 'entrapment', but they clearly don't know what it means. Entrapment entails the government getting someone to do something they normally wouldn't do. These individuals were already set on obtaining a visa by any means necessary to stay in this country.
These people knew the rules - if you don't have a visa, you don't get to stay. And signing up for a visa mill to be able to stay under false pretenses certainly doesn't help their case (considering, these people attended top schools, now they're signing up for a school they've never heard of for a degree in what? Bupkiss? Right, they're the victims... /s).
As the money: it was used in committing a crime. It's subject to forfeiture.
These people knew the rules - if you don't have a visa, you don't get to stay. And signing up for a visa mill to be able to stay under false pretenses certainly doesn't help their case (considering, these people attended top schools, now they're signing up for a school they've never heard of for a degree in what? Bupkiss? Right, they're the victims... /s).
As the money: it was used in committing a crime. It's subject to forfeiture.
5
I think most of them will attend classes if the university ask them to. They are students. They are just follow school rules. Students will not study hard if they realize their final exams are easy.
9
Hmm, I guess government credibility has been a global issue.
6
"They were 100 percent fully aware,” said Alvin Phillips, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security."
Is mind-reading and clairvoyance part of any Homeland Security job description.? Phillips should be held personally liable for such mindless pontificating as part of any class action suit. The students were deceived by a government operation designed to perpetrate deception of non-students. Foreign students are particularly vulnerable to misunderstanding what constitutes acceptable credentialing and even acceptable practices in our culture.
Is mind-reading and clairvoyance part of any Homeland Security job description.? Phillips should be held personally liable for such mindless pontificating as part of any class action suit. The students were deceived by a government operation designed to perpetrate deception of non-students. Foreign students are particularly vulnerable to misunderstanding what constitutes acceptable credentialing and even acceptable practices in our culture.
29
Smells like entrapment to me, with a side order of theft (since the government is keeping the people's money) and possibly wire fraud.
18
UNNJ was a school created and "certified" by the U.S. government. Even though the government said the students are not targeted and would not be charged criminally, they are facing deportation and possible life-time bar from re-entry. Should every educated person not be native and not make mistake? Of course not. It would be not easy to see through the whole if the government has spent 3 year, using its power and credibility to create and maintain the situation. That's exactly how entrapment works. Students have checked official sources they can find to verify the school. They made a mistake, got trapped and are paying for the price of their mistake. However, should they also be punished because of the immigration flaws of U.S? This country has been trying to attract skilled people with high education but on the other hand it is extremely hard for them to get work visa even when there is an employer who wants to offer sponsorship. The majority of international students are here paying high tuition, expensive health insurance, and high tax. Many of them don't want to stay because with the degree they can get a good job in their own country and stay with families. But being unfairly forced to have a visa fraud accusation in their record, do they deserve a fight?
One interesting thing is about the money. If the school was fake, where did all of the tuition go? The government has to explain it.
One interesting thing is about the money. If the school was fake, where did all of the tuition go? The government has to explain it.
23
Whether you agree this the "students" are victims or not, one thing is for sure. They would and have potentially replaced native Americans from jobs! Remember, the H-1B system was meant to bring people to fill in jobs where local talent is not available, and they are the "best and the brightest". Well, clearly that is not the case.. So the point is this: the H-1B system is badly misused and companies that used it to replaced American workers should pay for it somehow (including Disney, SCE, now EmblemHealth...list goes on and on). All of them will claim they did everything by law and that is true - only because our lobby driven govt supports it (I can start my diatribe regarding Hillary but that is a different topic). Who is going to give back all those lost years and pay? Meanwhile, the CEOs make money by gobs using such shady policies.
4
First of all, if the H1B system is broken and misused, the government should do something to fix it, instead of setting up this shameful entrapment!!!
Second, if you read the paper correctly, most of these kids are graduated from the top universities in US. So it is not them "replaced native Americans from jobs", since the jobs are what they deserve as TOP US UNIVERSITY GRADUATES. I can't imagine a boss would like to pay extra money and time on paperworks if they could find "native Americans" fit the jobs!
Second, if you read the paper correctly, most of these kids are graduated from the top universities in US. So it is not them "replaced native Americans from jobs", since the jobs are what they deserve as TOP US UNIVERSITY GRADUATES. I can't imagine a boss would like to pay extra money and time on paperworks if they could find "native Americans" fit the jobs!
12
Those whoever think that the your own unemployment is caused by foreigners need to get over yourself. Seriously. First of all, despite the fact how hard to get H1B, for foreigners, it's just hard to get a job if they are not GOOD enough. They have to be better than the native Americans in many ways, they will get hired. And if a company hires them in the US, it's not cheap labor, or them taking away jobs.
My company is not really H1B friendly, but not enough native workers are qualified for the jobs, and cheap enough of course. Guess what we did? We just go to India, and let some companies to do the contract work for us. This is called cheap and foreign labor.
So if you get laid off, or can't find a job at some point. Don't blame the foreigners. It's you.
My company is not really H1B friendly, but not enough native workers are qualified for the jobs, and cheap enough of course. Guess what we did? We just go to India, and let some companies to do the contract work for us. This is called cheap and foreign labor.
So if you get laid off, or can't find a job at some point. Don't blame the foreigners. It's you.
9
If I don't want to, or can't, work for a twelfth of my current salary it's my fault? If a company ships a job to India to prevent paying me a fair salary, it's my fault? Really?
1
whether or not the government is found to have broken the letter of the law, what a scummy thing to do. Not proud to be an american right now. was the prosecution of these visa mills worth trampling common human decency? yuck.
11
So glad HS is making us safe from these very threatening young people. No one wants an undocumented underpaid thoroughly devoted art therapist.
3
My biggest question after reading, why not they just undercover in one of those fake university which really exist and did not have proper certifications? Instead, our government choose to set up a properly accredited university for THREE whole year! As a law student, most sting operation (i.e. against drug dealers and other criminals) lasted about a year or so. WHY DO WE NEED THREE YEARS OF RESOURCE IN THIS CASE!?
I try to think, then I realize, hmm, where are the money they received from those brokers or students? is that why they have to have a school for their own? And what is that Waterfall company? Our government can't just take the money and keep it without giving any proper notice including at least the amount received. I think DHS needs a better explanation to the public than reciting the few sentences without support.
I try to think, then I realize, hmm, where are the money they received from those brokers or students? is that why they have to have a school for their own? And what is that Waterfall company? Our government can't just take the money and keep it without giving any proper notice including at least the amount received. I think DHS needs a better explanation to the public than reciting the few sentences without support.
30
Gee, that's interesting, but I have an idea for the same crafty sting operators from the Justice Dept.. How about opening up a law office and advertising that services will be provided to help the wealthy and powerful avoid paying any taxes by hiding assets offshore? Oh, wait, that's legal, right? Or, how about starting a fake mortgage origination company that will promise a half million loan to anybody breathing, even if documents have to be faked? Oh, sorry, that seems to be legal, too, since various actors did that a decade ago and never got indicted, and are now sipping drinks on their private beach somewhere. How about just laying 100 dollar bills on the sidewalk with fish hooks attached outside Goldman Sachs headquarters? Sigh. I guess not. Back to work trapping wannabee immigrants. Time and taxpayer dollars well spent, I guess.
A bit off topic, but, what is an "art therapist"? Earlier this week I read about an "art consultant". I just don't get it these days.
A bit off topic, but, what is an "art therapist"? Earlier this week I read about an "art consultant". I just don't get it these days.
6
Uses a kid's drawing to work thru their trauma, I believe. What they can't say they can draw.
So these "students" were attracted because "They did not have to go to class, but they could get coveted student visas and still work at their dream jobs."?
In other words, cheaters and willing liars, quite happy to use bogus documents, deception, and back-alleys to get what they wanted? Sorry, but I really don't think those are people the US, or any nation, wants to encourage to become residents.
In other words, cheaters and willing liars, quite happy to use bogus documents, deception, and back-alleys to get what they wanted? Sorry, but I really don't think those are people the US, or any nation, wants to encourage to become residents.
4
Abscam updated. And in NJ. But where are the politicians for the screenplay? No one wants in on Atlantic City these days.
I believe the students have a point here.
First of all, If you look at the definition of full-time enrollment for post-graduate students on ICE's website (https://www.ice.gov/exec/sevp/Module3.htm)
It says "as certified by the DSO as a full course of study".
And second of all, the students were told they can earn credit hours through working.
I would imagine students had good reasons to believe they were compliant with the law.
First of all, If you look at the definition of full-time enrollment for post-graduate students on ICE's website (https://www.ice.gov/exec/sevp/Module3.htm)
It says "as certified by the DSO as a full course of study".
And second of all, the students were told they can earn credit hours through working.
I would imagine students had good reasons to believe they were compliant with the law.
11
I will sleep better tonight knowing these students were trapped in a scam. Meanwhile Corpo America puts billions in tax free accounts off shore and we continue our bloody Guns R Us legal system. God have mercy on us.
4
These "students" were knowingly trying to work around visa laws and I have no sympathy for them.
4
I do not feel that much sympathy for the students, they knew what they were doing. I used to work at an ESL school in Manhattan there were students who were there to learn English, others were just looking for a student visa to stay in the country to work (often illegally). These so-called students purposely paid to enroll in a college where they knew they would not have to actually take any classes......they just got caught.
2
Sting operations should be made illegal. I mean, these people are from China mostly, where the government is in charge of everything. Since the US government accredited this university, to them that was probably a gold seal of approval.
Look, if they catch you doing something wrong, you should go to jail. However, they shouldn't be able to set you up with everything u need to break the law, and then dangle it in your face until you decide to do it. It's like the FBI making fake bombs for would be social media terrorists. They meet with these people, push them to more radical beliefs, and give them every single motivation and tool they need. I think for some mentally unhinged or weak person, this is entrapment. What that needed was therapy, not a life sentence set up by the FBI that's going to cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
I think entrapment laws in America be given enough teeth so that the FBI or other government agency can't create crimes to net desperate, ignorant, or mentally unhinged people.
Look, if they catch you doing something wrong, you should go to jail. However, they shouldn't be able to set you up with everything u need to break the law, and then dangle it in your face until you decide to do it. It's like the FBI making fake bombs for would be social media terrorists. They meet with these people, push them to more radical beliefs, and give them every single motivation and tool they need. I think for some mentally unhinged or weak person, this is entrapment. What that needed was therapy, not a life sentence set up by the FBI that's going to cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
I think entrapment laws in America be given enough teeth so that the FBI or other government agency can't create crimes to net desperate, ignorant, or mentally unhinged people.
24
This points out the whole problem with the HB-1 visa and the student visas. The whole systems need to be overhauled. We don't need 85,000 or 250,00O applicant that can't distinguish a bogus program in suburban jersey. These students aren't experts or the best and brightest. They are either just rich foreigners, or they are cheap compliment labor.
7
These government entrappers need a reality check instead of digging their head so far up into their own scheme. They have preyed upon many decent human beings whose only crime is looking for a solution to retain a link to opportunity in the U.S
People in the U.S. government need to realize that when you put a foreign person who speaks another language and who has different cultural norms into a situation where they are being purposefully deceived while being reassured that everything is O.K. and you sugar coat it with the very opportunity they are desperately seeking, you will end up with a lot of victims.
This is sickening.
People in the U.S. government need to realize that when you put a foreign person who speaks another language and who has different cultural norms into a situation where they are being purposefully deceived while being reassured that everything is O.K. and you sugar coat it with the very opportunity they are desperately seeking, you will end up with a lot of victims.
This is sickening.
12
1. Is is true that all students knew the school was a scam?
No. Probably it is true for some, but it is unfair to assume all.
1.1 Before a student can transfer to UNNJ, the previous DSO of university need to release record to UNNJ and contact USCIS. If a DSO can't even tell UNNJ is fake, with no classrooms and professors, how can a student to tell that? Knowing the DSO will do the due diligence, I don't think I would question UNNJ at all if I was the student. I feel sorry for the students, especially those who have done their own research and were lied by all the possible government websites.
1.2 What's worse, once the record was transferred, the student was flagged by DHS. Even if after months, when the student found something not right and transferred to another university, the student will still be deported. Any other way out?
2. Entrapment?
Probably for some of the student, YES. When a student, together with his parents paid a school tour, when the student questioned why there was no students and the undercover agent told him it was lunch time, when the student even was given a UNNJ logo T-shirt and mug, I don't know what is called entrapment if this is not entrapment
3. What about the tuition?
I just wonder how the government will deal with the million dollar tuition. Any idea?
Thank god, when I was an international student, there was no such sting operation. Because I never thought I would need to check my university's legality at all.
No. Probably it is true for some, but it is unfair to assume all.
1.1 Before a student can transfer to UNNJ, the previous DSO of university need to release record to UNNJ and contact USCIS. If a DSO can't even tell UNNJ is fake, with no classrooms and professors, how can a student to tell that? Knowing the DSO will do the due diligence, I don't think I would question UNNJ at all if I was the student. I feel sorry for the students, especially those who have done their own research and were lied by all the possible government websites.
1.2 What's worse, once the record was transferred, the student was flagged by DHS. Even if after months, when the student found something not right and transferred to another university, the student will still be deported. Any other way out?
2. Entrapment?
Probably for some of the student, YES. When a student, together with his parents paid a school tour, when the student questioned why there was no students and the undercover agent told him it was lunch time, when the student even was given a UNNJ logo T-shirt and mug, I don't know what is called entrapment if this is not entrapment
3. What about the tuition?
I just wonder how the government will deal with the million dollar tuition. Any idea?
Thank god, when I was an international student, there was no such sting operation. Because I never thought I would need to check my university's legality at all.
13
LOL, and I would never doubt even all these government websites would lie to us! when they "said" it is real, it could actually be FAKE! how does that make our government trustworthy now?
6
There are 300,000 students from mainland China in the US, and the US State Dept. has set a goal of 100,000 Americans studying in China. When I as a US citizen had a misunderstanding with my visa in Shanghai, I had to pay a big fine and agree to self-deport. When I asked why, since the trouble could have been cleared up or avoided with a better translation of the complex rules, the official replied, "Well, it's worse for Chinese students in the US, your immigration policies are nuts." It is an experience for the people to learn from their governments.
4
Wait a minute - so someone with an MBA enrolled, not with education as the intent, but to evade our immigration rules?
No sympathy.
If they have been here long enough to have earned degrees elsewhere and are still trying the "poor pitiful, worthy, foreign student, I didn't know it was fake" routine, then not only should they be deported, but the other institutions where they obtained their earlier degrees should be VERY closely examined.
I am not convinced by these manipulative and self-serving complaints. It's clear what the intent was.
No sympathy.
If they have been here long enough to have earned degrees elsewhere and are still trying the "poor pitiful, worthy, foreign student, I didn't know it was fake" routine, then not only should they be deported, but the other institutions where they obtained their earlier degrees should be VERY closely examined.
I am not convinced by these manipulative and self-serving complaints. It's clear what the intent was.
7
I came to the United States close to 12 years ago to attend an Ivy League School. Unlike what some people assert, no international student has access to federal funds or federal grants to attend university/college. I landed a job after graduation and today I am a permanent resident. Thinking back to my years as an undergraduate student, I vividly recall not only my concern with always being on the right side of student visa regulations/conditions, but I also was incredibly vigilant that not even by a silly mistake would I fail to live up to my responsibility as a student on a F1 visa - eg, have a full course load, maintain a certain GPA, leave the country during times when I was not attending classes and always reported with the appropriate office at my school.
Fast forward 8 years and I'm now a permanent resident. Yet before now, I always considered myself a guest in this country and acted accordingly.
I'm appalled by the actions of these individuals to defraud the system and pretend to be students for their own benefit. Each one of these individuals knew they were not living up to their end of the bargain when they accepted OPT or F1 status and yet willfully gamed the system for their benefit.They believed that they were entitled to stay in the US despite their breach of immigration laws.
I, like them, was a guest during my time as a student and they should have acted accordingly. Rightfully, their status in the US should be jeopardized and if need be, asked to leave.
Fast forward 8 years and I'm now a permanent resident. Yet before now, I always considered myself a guest in this country and acted accordingly.
I'm appalled by the actions of these individuals to defraud the system and pretend to be students for their own benefit. Each one of these individuals knew they were not living up to their end of the bargain when they accepted OPT or F1 status and yet willfully gamed the system for their benefit.They believed that they were entitled to stay in the US despite their breach of immigration laws.
I, like them, was a guest during my time as a student and they should have acted accordingly. Rightfully, their status in the US should be jeopardized and if need be, asked to leave.
8
If I read this correctly I see one branch of government spending significant resources in money and manpower ferreting out and deporting people who are in country illegally. Yet at the same time there are literally tens or hundreds of thousands of people being allowed to freely cross our southern border. Even if arrested for a crime they are released. There is a disconnect in a way only government can produce.
12
I agree.... I am more worried about those illegally crossing border ones than these ones who actually work and pay taxes.....
6
Agree. Government is way too over on these students. Why don't they use these resources to guard the border and find out criminals?
2
I would be sympathetic if the purported students were in their teens or were not already familiar with the US collegiate system. But come on, these people were of age and most had received degrees from other colleges. No school has a "no class" policy and what college shuts down its offices during Spring Break? These foreigners were looking to get over but were got instead. Send them home.
7
Thomas Edison University
1
Students have made mistake and they are taking the consequence -- F1 visa revoked and tuation paid for nothing. However they don't deserve to be arrested and deported like other illegal immingrants because what DHS has done in this sting has crossed the line too far. They set up a fake school, they use their unique resources to make it as legit as possible, they collected millions of "tuation", they misled students intentionally, and at last, they accuse students of visa fraud. DHS got everything -- money, reputation, and a big win. Seems impossible? They made it possible by not just playing the edge ball, but entraping students. With such flaws during this sting, DHS knows they'll be questioned so they use their power to shut students up and get them out of the contry. The smart solution for DHS is: Don't reponse to any question, don't refund money, and allow the students to file for F1 visa reinstatement or change of status. Not many students have the money and will to stay here after this and for those who still want to go to another school or seek for another leagl status why not giving them a sceond chance? DHS won't lose anything by doing so and instead they will avoid being questioned, challenged, or possible civil suit. Last time I check, it's not in China and judicial system doesn't work for government.
12
I worry about students who go to real Universities or Colleges and are displaced by those from fake ones. Even if the students "trained" by the fake Universities are eventually pushed out due to performance, etc. But, these transitions are disruptive and time consuming.
I worry about the firms that hire students who attend fake Universities and Colleges. They may get very poorly trained graduates and therefore not do as well.
I worry about the firms that hire students who attend fake Universities and Colleges. They may get very poorly trained graduates and therefore not do as well.
3
As i read, i found out they said those students are mostly graduated from highly ranked colleges in United States, so I would not think performance will be an issue.
4
I'm an international student, let me say something.
First of all we need to recognize that the US immigration system is TOTALLY BROKEN. Because of the endless fight in Washington, the politicians have failed to address this serious issue, whether to increase the number of H-1B visas or offering a solution to the Mexicans. And the victims are those who are most vulnerable: foreign students and immigrants, many of whom don't fully understand the complicated laws here.
Secondly, this operation is the very definition of disgraceful entrapment. The foreign students are lied by brokers and legit institutions. Many of them are desperate to achieve their goals and stay in the US, and did proper due dilligence. The authorities claim that over 45 days of study at a fake school will be illegal, while they are fabricating everything, whether facaulty are out for lunch or bad weather has come, to keep students from realizing that the school is fake, so that they could arrest them and take away their money. And they don't have to worry about potential law suits, because they know how weak these poor students are. The students were ignorant enough to be trapped, how could they ever sue UHS?
I'm really disgusted.
First of all we need to recognize that the US immigration system is TOTALLY BROKEN. Because of the endless fight in Washington, the politicians have failed to address this serious issue, whether to increase the number of H-1B visas or offering a solution to the Mexicans. And the victims are those who are most vulnerable: foreign students and immigrants, many of whom don't fully understand the complicated laws here.
Secondly, this operation is the very definition of disgraceful entrapment. The foreign students are lied by brokers and legit institutions. Many of them are desperate to achieve their goals and stay in the US, and did proper due dilligence. The authorities claim that over 45 days of study at a fake school will be illegal, while they are fabricating everything, whether facaulty are out for lunch or bad weather has come, to keep students from realizing that the school is fake, so that they could arrest them and take away their money. And they don't have to worry about potential law suits, because they know how weak these poor students are. The students were ignorant enough to be trapped, how could they ever sue UHS?
I'm really disgusted.
18
very good statement. this country is running by immigrants only-
army
IT
telecom
doctors
restaurants
construction
students are just doing their best to achieve their goal by staying here because this country has tons of opportunity for them.
dont know why people saying " no sympathy" for students. wake up people wake up..... you should know wats going on..
army
IT
telecom
doctors
restaurants
construction
students are just doing their best to achieve their goal by staying here because this country has tons of opportunity for them.
dont know why people saying " no sympathy" for students. wake up people wake up..... you should know wats going on..
3
I don't think people are understanding that what the students were trying to do was not illegal. Is it a loophole in our immigration system? Probably. We should work to fix such loopholes and make the system more fair. However they had lawful status here because the government accredited the university and allowed the university to structure its courses. If it was illegal major employers will not be hiring these workers. I think it is outrageous that the government, in its effort to catch the middlemen, is doing the same crime. At the very least issue a refund of the money collected. Furthermore, you have to ask yourself why are we going out of our way to try to deport these students who are here legally when we are trying to naturalize illegals. What we should be doing is look at why some well qualified workers who spent years in the U.S. education system needs to pay thousands to these "colleges" to try to stay here when outsourcing companies are bringing in workers by the planeload from overseas. This entire thing just stinks.
23
These students' protestations of innocence don't ring true. Many of them apparently "enrolled" here to cover a gap between the expiration of their student visas and the hoped-for receipt of a work visa. When there were no classes, did they not think that odd? Did they investigate further?
None of them is likely as naive as they now protest. They'd graduated from US universities, they'd seen how legitimate universities operate. Even if they didn't deliberately seek out a fake university (an admittedly brave assumption), they were complicit once they realized, as they surely must have, that this was no real school.
None of them is likely as naive as they now protest. They'd graduated from US universities, they'd seen how legitimate universities operate. Even if they didn't deliberately seek out a fake university (an admittedly brave assumption), they were complicit once they realized, as they surely must have, that this was no real school.
17
What's wrong with finding a legitimate way to fill the gap?
People always expect more from these poor students, "they should have known better." Come on, they are just international students, not saints.
People always expect more from these poor students, "they should have known better." Come on, they are just international students, not saints.
5
Nothing is wrong with finding a legitimate way to fill the gap. But this was not legitimate, and I have trouble believing these students failed to understand that. They weren't, in fact, 'just international students'. They were graduates who were no longer attending school but nevertheless sought to extend their stay on student visas. They were trying to game the system and got caught.
4
RE: SCB New York, NY So it's okay for our american students skip semesters and work full time, or intentionally push their graduation dates. But it's not okay for those foreign students want to find a legitimate way to extend their student life/visas? Some are undergraduates and going to UNNJ for some master level courses, why is that illegal? Why can't an undergraduates students pursuing a master degree after graduation? What's you logic? For God's sake, they paid tuition and go to this legit school, and been told by the school DSO that CPT program is legit as long as their work is within their school major area. It's just like medical school, when those students are doing residency program, they don't go to classes either, and you are okay to hand them your life. And all these students that working legally in their own fields are suddenly not OK? Just because they are foreigners?
"They were trying to game the system and got caught."
If the government found a loophole in the system, why not just fix it, but not spend THREE years of tax money and human resources to set up a trap and watch people "play the system." Yet, those students are not playing the system, but simply trapped by the government.
"They were trying to game the system and got caught."
If the government found a loophole in the system, why not just fix it, but not spend THREE years of tax money and human resources to set up a trap and watch people "play the system." Yet, those students are not playing the system, but simply trapped by the government.
7
I can now see why some people believe government is the problem.
Registered Democrat and Sanders supporter
Registered Democrat and Sanders supporter
13
The government is the problem for catching people trying to commit visa fraud? Both the "students" and the brokers are in the wrong.
4
wondering how is the government doing with catching people who does not even bother to get a VISA?
1
I suspect this news item will disappear quickly but I am appealed that our govt crated a fake university and then collected money from real people and then refuses to give the money back. Where did that money go? The whole "plan" stinks to high heaven and is outright shameful.
47
Pure entrapment. DHS used this cam to prey on the very types of immigrants our country needs- motivated young men and women who want to learn and work and contribute tax to our country. I seriously think students should sue DHS. They accredited the school on their own website, put the state government certification online, make up school website , hire school staffs, rent the school campus, facebook page and everything. Now they are saying everything they create is fake, take the students MONEY into their own pocket without saying a word. How can the students identify it before dropping into the trap? They have done their due diligence. What is DHS's real purpose?
35
If you read the article you will see that the DHS was not who made the university and they only recently found out it was fake. All parties involved in the fake university should be prosecuted. Government employees who placed the school on the government and website should be prosecuted. The students should be allowed to transfer to other schools and not be prosecuted. They were tricked.
12
Claire, the students knew they were enrolling in a college program where they would never have to attend classes or pursue any type of degree. They knew what they were doing, this is a common trick which is why the immigration department set up this sting operation.
4
On April 5, the government revealed that the university was a fake — part of an elaborate sting operation that resulted in the arrest of 22 brokers who arranged for students to enroll.
IT IS a sting operation, DHS created this school by themselves and made it accredited.
IT IS a sting operation, DHS created this school by themselves and made it accredited.
“Talent and education never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the fates.”
- J. K. Rowling, (Harvard Commencement Address, 2008)
___
As international students, in this instance, what you know becomes more important than who you know.
- J. K. Rowling, (Harvard Commencement Address, 2008)
___
As international students, in this instance, what you know becomes more important than who you know.
6
Even if the university was accredited, the rules for international students on F-1 visa is pretty straightforward and is easily available on the USCIS website https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-11261/0-0...
As an international student on F-1 visa, you can only take one online course (3-credits) per semester.
"(G) For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken on-line or through distance education and does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class. An on-line or distance education course is a course that is offered principally through the use of television, audio, or computer transmission including open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, or satellite, audio conferencing, or computer conferencing. If the F-1 student's course of study is in a language study program, no on-line or distance education classes may be considered to count toward a student's full course of study requirement. (Revised effective 1/1/03; 67 FR 76256 )"
As an international student on F-1 visa, you can only take one online course (3-credits) per semester.
"(G) For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken on-line or through distance education and does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class. An on-line or distance education course is a course that is offered principally through the use of television, audio, or computer transmission including open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, or satellite, audio conferencing, or computer conferencing. If the F-1 student's course of study is in a language study program, no on-line or distance education classes may be considered to count toward a student's full course of study requirement. (Revised effective 1/1/03; 67 FR 76256 )"
8
Yes . It's pretty straightforward HOWEVER It says (A) Postgraduate study or postdoctoral study at a college or university, or undergraduate or postgraduate study at a conservatory or religious seminary, certified by a DSO as a full course of study; Most students in UNNJ are graduate students, their fulltime course of study are certified by UNNJ (the sting operation actually) according to the law. And they got the permission from the school if you read this article carefully, which actually follows the law.
https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-11261/0-0...
https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-11261/0-0...
It also says: (A) Postgraduate study or postdoctoral study at a college or university, or undergraduate or postgraduate study at a conservatory or religious seminary, certified by a DSO as a full course of study;
The article makes no mention of students on F-1 visas. A majority of these students were on OPT/CPT visas, for which the requirements are different and a letter from the university (as mentioned briefly) could serve as a a validation of their non immigrant status.
I have sympathy for these students. What do we expect from foreign students? They check to see that the University is accredited, they call or write the University to confirm that they are following the rules. I'd say that was at least a minimum level of reasonable due diligence. Also, what exactly is the difference between a criminal fraudulently taking money from vulnerable foreign students and the US government creating this fake accredited university, drawing in students, lying to them when they request confirmation that the University is legitimate, and then, finally, keeping the money they scammed from them?!
79
Oh give me a break! The government didn't 'draw in students'. It placed this bogus university among dozens of similar visa mills, and it drew in the brokers who - with the students - were clearly aiming to perpetrate a visa fraud.
You seem to wish to portray these students as poor, naïve, innocent kindergarten-level lambkins. However, the article states that these students 'had earned degrees from schools including the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan and Fordham' and were expecting to work at companies including 'Facebook, Google and Morgan Stanley' if they could obtain H1-B visas. Having failed to get a visa, they turned to brokers and knowingly signed up for a visa-mill school that would let them go to work and not attend classes. (The students paid the brokers, not the government.) They tried to pull a fast one and got caught. I have no more sympathy for them than I would for a guy who screams entrapment after the 14-year-old girl he contacts online or on Craigslist and goes to meet in a motel room for sex turns out to be the Vice Squad.
You seem to wish to portray these students as poor, naïve, innocent kindergarten-level lambkins. However, the article states that these students 'had earned degrees from schools including the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan and Fordham' and were expecting to work at companies including 'Facebook, Google and Morgan Stanley' if they could obtain H1-B visas. Having failed to get a visa, they turned to brokers and knowingly signed up for a visa-mill school that would let them go to work and not attend classes. (The students paid the brokers, not the government.) They tried to pull a fast one and got caught. I have no more sympathy for them than I would for a guy who screams entrapment after the 14-year-old girl he contacts online or on Craigslist and goes to meet in a motel room for sex turns out to be the Vice Squad.
8
If you were registering for a university program but were told there were no classes and no requirements, you wouldn't be suspicious? These students were looking for a way to stay in the country, this type of scheme is very common. I used to work at an ESL class and about 25% of the students never attended classes, they just used the school for a visa so they could stay in the country to work, often illegally.
6
Oh why don't you take a break and work on your analogy. If you say the "14-year-old girl" is UNNJ, that "14-year-old girl" must have a government issued ID says 21 years old (she might seem not to have well blessed body but, she is 21 after all), because UNNJ was certified by DHS and other government departments. Some adult stranger from Craigslist offers some non-traditional non-conventional intercouse methologies in a hook up - I don't see why not.
3
Given that the "students" were trying to get away with a Visa scam and taking jobs from lawful residents, why should they get sympathy? I have much more sympathy for poor Mexican immigrants working as landscapers than these "students", who seem to have more money than morals.
24
Yes, illegal immigrant is a better option for students, do not need to pay tax and still have such great benefits from US government. Viva illegal alien.
5
I don't think they are trying to get away with a VISA scam or taking away jobs from lawful residents. When they were working in the US, they have lawfully status. Or you will think those big companies would ever hire any of them if they are not legal? Also, if you read the news carefully, they all came in the country with legit visa, there's no scam, they went to legit schools and get degrees, and UNNJ was a legit school before it was closed. How should the students know this school was operated by DHS? If they do, is that a failure of a national security operation?
Nobody is asking your sympathy, Mexicans or these students. Do you think that because you are a citizen so that you are better than other people? You are not. We are not.
They don't need sympathy, but they also don't need any wrongfully charge, just because they are trying to do the right thing (believe it or not, it's actually easier to stay in the US illegally than getting a working visa) and scammed by the government. This is not fair.
By the way, I think you might find this fact useful, since you were talking about money and morals: illegal residents don't pay taxes. But those students do.
Nobody is asking your sympathy, Mexicans or these students. Do you think that because you are a citizen so that you are better than other people? You are not. We are not.
They don't need sympathy, but they also don't need any wrongfully charge, just because they are trying to do the right thing (believe it or not, it's actually easier to stay in the US illegally than getting a working visa) and scammed by the government. This is not fair.
By the way, I think you might find this fact useful, since you were talking about money and morals: illegal residents don't pay taxes. But those students do.
26
asd123: UNNJ was never a legit school. It was a false front created by the U.S. government and "certified" by the U.S. government. That is why I think the U.S. should let these people go -- and refund their money. Remember, they were not the targets of the investigation; in fact, they were essential tools for the investigation of the brokers, because without letting the students get trapped by the brokers, the feds could not catch the brokers. We owe them something.
I have been dealing with some students from China and India, and they can be extremely naive. The ones who are not naive will not be entrapped; that's how entrapment works.
I have been dealing with some students from China and India, and they can be extremely naive. The ones who are not naive will not be entrapped; that's how entrapment works.
7
Truth be known my wife was in ESL at the University level both as an ESL administrator as well as a professor at the Graduate level in linguistics . And in reality you'd be shocked and surprised how many students as well as governments sponsoring so called students have been scamming the legitimate colleges and ESL programs across the US in order to obtain Visas under false pretenses and then ' disappear ' into the system never to be seen or heard from again . So for this group of students to be crying ' Collateral damage at the very least sounds both disingenuous and a lie . FYI 70% of the reasons my wife left ESL as well as higher education in general was the constant ' sanctified ' fraud on the part of the University as well as private ESL systems in order to attract the substantial profits these frauds and scams bring in . e.g. Accept the student and his/her tuition . Student disappears after two or three weeks , but you've got their money and now they're not taking up classroom space which can then be filled by other students .. legitimate or otherwise .
20
I also worked at an ESL school in Manhattan for a year, and about 25% of our students never attended class. This is a common scam that people use to stay in the US, people worry so much about illegal immigrants crossing the border (which by the way has been net 0% since 2009), but these types of scams are far more common than most people realize.
I think you are talking about a different issue here. Students who needed to take ESL courses usually didn't get through any higher education, etc. This school offers bunch of post graduate programs other than ESL. And here is the drill, if an ESL school doesn't terminate the students who don't fulfill attendance requirement, it's the ESL's unethical malpractice of business. In this particular case, the school official and agencies even asked those students to stay away from anywhere near the campus. Those students didn't try to "disappear" - like your ESL students - and to become illegal immigrants - if that's what you meant by "disappear" from ESL school - in contrast, they are speaking out for their legal status and constitutional rights.
Homeland Security 101: when the Homeland Security website tells a citizen something is permissible you should not believe it.
What on Earth were they thinking? That Americans would not learn that it lies to us as part of its charter?
If you didn't think so before, you know its true now.
What on Earth were they thinking? That Americans would not learn that it lies to us as part of its charter?
If you didn't think so before, you know its true now.
31
Sooo, they were trying to scam immigration in order to get H1-B visas and knowingly enrolled in a 'college' that wouldn't require them to attend any classes.
Hear that distant, teeny tiny squeak? It is the World's Smallest Violin, playing just for them.
It's ironic that this is running at the same time, elsewhere in the paper, Frank Bruni has been considering the grueling, lengthy process through which American students go in choosing a college and seeking admisssion. Any serious student in search of an education, rather than a shortcut to a visa, would at least Google a school to get some background on it. It wouldn't have been so hard to discover the dearth of documentation of this newly invented school, e.g., not in the US News rankings, no previous media coverage. Evidently they didn't bother to do even minimal legwork, because the 'school' was only a pretext to the visa. They had to know it was a scam; they were simply mistaken in believing that they were scamming the US government rather than being scammed by it.
If a few did seriously think the "University of Northern NJ" was not a scam, they hardly have enough brains to get into a real college. The overwhelming evidence, though, is that they knew exactly what they were getting into. I hope they throw the book at 'em.
Hear that distant, teeny tiny squeak? It is the World's Smallest Violin, playing just for them.
It's ironic that this is running at the same time, elsewhere in the paper, Frank Bruni has been considering the grueling, lengthy process through which American students go in choosing a college and seeking admisssion. Any serious student in search of an education, rather than a shortcut to a visa, would at least Google a school to get some background on it. It wouldn't have been so hard to discover the dearth of documentation of this newly invented school, e.g., not in the US News rankings, no previous media coverage. Evidently they didn't bother to do even minimal legwork, because the 'school' was only a pretext to the visa. They had to know it was a scam; they were simply mistaken in believing that they were scamming the US government rather than being scammed by it.
If a few did seriously think the "University of Northern NJ" was not a scam, they hardly have enough brains to get into a real college. The overwhelming evidence, though, is that they knew exactly what they were getting into. I hope they throw the book at 'em.
21
ACW, nobody knows what "any" person would do. I no longer accept such statements. There are so many factors you would never consider if you didn't know the case. I've seen enough utter naivete, plain idiocy, amazing ignorance, wishful thinking, and other unintended stupidity -- all in pretty smart people -- to believe "any" person might have made all those mistakes. I don't either mean to say none of those students knew how wrong their actions were, but I think many of them were victims.
4
some student did visit the school i think based on the news.
1
Many legitimate Universities have programs where you receive credits for up to one full year of working [commonly called externships]. How could these students possibly know that such a program wasn't in place at UNNJ. What the government did to these unlucky students is a travesty. At a minimum, refund the money they sent the "university" [actually the government]. And don't ban them from returning unless we have overwhelming evidence that they totally understood that this was fraudulent.
25
How is this scam so different from the one at the "legitimate" university where my friend works in the online courses area? Students sign up to take all their classes online and are then eligible to apply for federal loans and scholarships. A significant number never complete the coursework, but the school hauls in the tuition anyway. Taxpayers foot the bill and the school takes in the money. Is this scenario more honest and less of a scam?
25
It all depends on whose ox is being gored. We are from the government and we are here to help you.
The 'students' swept up in this sting may have understood that it was fraudulent, but they were not perpetrators here. For them this is plain entrapment of people anxious to stay here. Those who stood to profit from them are the sharks.
Every 'student' willing to give evidence against these sharks should be free of any other sanction related to this sting. In doing so they would be helping the government send a strong message to those who would prey on our undocumented millions.
Every 'student' willing to give evidence against these sharks should be free of any other sanction related to this sting. In doing so they would be helping the government send a strong message to those who would prey on our undocumented millions.
25
I'm sorry, but these "students" are probably technology workers who couldn't get a fraudulent H-1B visa, a la Disney's 300+ recruits who took jobs from working Americans. They in effect become indentured servants to the companies that hire them. As a 34+ year tech guy who has recently retired, I had grown weary of the foreign employees taking over our jobs. And no, they aren't better at them, they are typically not as good, with poor language skills, but cheaper. Cheaper being the key ingredient here.
Lastly, no I am not being prejudiced against these foreign workers, I have worked internationally for decades; it's just that when a DBA, for example, gets replaced by another and s/he doesn't know their SQL from a hole in the ground, all work suffers. It's happened way too often. This is just one more scheme to bring in cheap tech workers.
Lastly, no I am not being prejudiced against these foreign workers, I have worked internationally for decades; it's just that when a DBA, for example, gets replaced by another and s/he doesn't know their SQL from a hole in the ground, all work suffers. It's happened way too often. This is just one more scheme to bring in cheap tech workers.
8
Joe Sabin, FL: you may be right, but our justice system should not work by luring and tempting and entrapping those most gullible and desperate. The targets should have been the brokers.
And have you asked yourself why Homeland Security was involved in this and not Immigration and Naturalization?
And have you asked yourself why Homeland Security was involved in this and not Immigration and Naturalization?
14
Those students broke the law and they did so with full intent to commit fraud as well as obtain student Visas under fraudulent circumstances and therefore deserve to have the full force of the law brought down upon them regardless of their willingness to testify . FYI ; Those ' Sharks ' you speak of include many a prominent College and University and in fact the majority of those ' Shark's ' are merely opportunists taking advantage of wiling individuals wanting Visas under any means in order to profit by scamming the system . Which is to say , drop the Ultra Liberal blinders .. read the full story .... and take the time to do the research before coming u with such an uniformed and naive comment
14
"the Department of Homeland Security’s website certified the University of Northern New Jersey... In addition, the website of the New Jersey Education Department listed it as approved. So did the website of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, a national body.,, had certified the university in order to cooperate with the government’s investigation."
This is entrapment, plain and simple. When accrediting bodies okay a school, what else are applicants supposed to believe? If the IRS were to announce that a "fake" deduction was okay and then prosecuted those who took it, what would we think? If the police said parking in a prohibited zone was okay and then towed the cars that parked there, wouldn't there be an outrage?
Many of the students tried to verify the status of the school and were lied to by the government. Do we not have a problem with veracity of official statements already?
Among the most vulnerable in this country are foreign students who are desperate to prolong their stay - it is not right to tempt them with false promises - it makes us no better than the brokers who lure migrants into crossing the Mediterranean with false promises of a better life in Europe and then leave them to the fate of the waves.
This was shameful behavior by Homeland Security and threatens the integrity of that institution and the security of all citizens, who may be lied to and entrapped by the Homeland police. And why is Homeland Security involved in this fiasco?
This is entrapment, plain and simple. When accrediting bodies okay a school, what else are applicants supposed to believe? If the IRS were to announce that a "fake" deduction was okay and then prosecuted those who took it, what would we think? If the police said parking in a prohibited zone was okay and then towed the cars that parked there, wouldn't there be an outrage?
Many of the students tried to verify the status of the school and were lied to by the government. Do we not have a problem with veracity of official statements already?
Among the most vulnerable in this country are foreign students who are desperate to prolong their stay - it is not right to tempt them with false promises - it makes us no better than the brokers who lure migrants into crossing the Mediterranean with false promises of a better life in Europe and then leave them to the fate of the waves.
This was shameful behavior by Homeland Security and threatens the integrity of that institution and the security of all citizens, who may be lied to and entrapped by the Homeland police. And why is Homeland Security involved in this fiasco?
84
Well said. No reasonable jury could find them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, because the more than reasonable doubt would be staring them in the face. If the appropriate government website says a place is licensed, any reasonable person would believe that the proper procedure has taken place.
And the private accrediting agency should be ashamed of itself. Does it realize that its accreditations are now worthless? All a private accreditation agency is is a group that says, trust us, we've done our homework. Well sorry, now we know that your publications certainly don't reflect any homework you may have done.
Do the US and NJ governments realize that their websites are also worthless now? Should I apply for a passport in the manner stated on the State Department website or am I going to get indicted for sending a check to some scammer to help the government make its case? The US government endorses private entities all the time for myriad roles. That's now all suspect. It's insane.
And the private accrediting agency should be ashamed of itself. Does it realize that its accreditations are now worthless? All a private accreditation agency is is a group that says, trust us, we've done our homework. Well sorry, now we know that your publications certainly don't reflect any homework you may have done.
Do the US and NJ governments realize that their websites are also worthless now? Should I apply for a passport in the manner stated on the State Department website or am I going to get indicted for sending a check to some scammer to help the government make its case? The US government endorses private entities all the time for myriad roles. That's now all suspect. It's insane.
19
I'm not so sure I agree. If I move to Cananda on a student visa saying I want to learn French, then register for a French language program that would not require me to attend any classes or turn in any assignments, I think I would be suspicious.
4
No sympathy. These people knew what they were doing. A university, and no classes, no teachers, no schedule? Come on! This also hurts chances of students who want to do the right thing. Has anyone idea of how suspicious a young foreign student looks in the eyes of an INS officer? Those are no joke.
34
Dude, I went to unnj to check everything, they told me teachers and students went out for lunch, so no one in class room at that time....and I registered this school few days before this operation....tell me should I know it's fake? Did I knew?
18
Josh - "I went to unnj to check everything,"
Obviously not everything. Dude, they all went out to lunch at the same time? You registered at a FOR COST school and couldn't wait an hour until "lunch" was over? "Should you know it's fake?" Should you have spent a few more minutes to find out? Absolutely!
Obviously not everything. Dude, they all went out to lunch at the same time? You registered at a FOR COST school and couldn't wait an hour until "lunch" was over? "Should you know it's fake?" Should you have spent a few more minutes to find out? Absolutely!
7
"Tired", you're so smart! You think of everything! And you wouldn't have been entrapped. It's the naive and foolish ones who were entrapped by the "UNNJ". So they should be punished, right?
2
This was a brilliant tactic designed to find and prosecute these "brokers" whose business model is to charge foreigners for assistance in, in this case, knowingly or recklessly violated U.S. Immigration law. Maybes student was naive, another was aware of the illegality. It doesn't matter. Ya gotta break some eggs to make an omelette.
8
Captivakjestine Captiva, FL: just hope Homeland Security doesn't set up a trap for you or your children some day on the egg-omelette theory.
16
US justice, you just can't beat it.
9
how did it compare to trump university.
36
Should DHS not have accredited this fake university? Yes, because it can skew collected data about real educational institutions.
Is our H-1B visa system broken? Yes, but broken things should be fixed, not bypassed.
Were these "students" who received no education from this fake university in the wrong for gaming the system to stay in the U.S.? Absolutely.
Foreign nationals are not entitled to live in the United States, period. It does not matter how brilliant you are or how sad your story is, it is a sovereign nation's business to decide who gets in and who stays out, not yours. Buying or brokering fraudulent student visas is no different than sneaking past the border in dark of night. Same goes for employers who take part in this system: they are no different than farmers who knowingly employ illegal aliens.
Crime is crime, simple as that. If someone is willing to break the law to enter this country, that's twice the reason to keep them out.
Is our H-1B visa system broken? Yes, but broken things should be fixed, not bypassed.
Were these "students" who received no education from this fake university in the wrong for gaming the system to stay in the U.S.? Absolutely.
Foreign nationals are not entitled to live in the United States, period. It does not matter how brilliant you are or how sad your story is, it is a sovereign nation's business to decide who gets in and who stays out, not yours. Buying or brokering fraudulent student visas is no different than sneaking past the border in dark of night. Same goes for employers who take part in this system: they are no different than farmers who knowingly employ illegal aliens.
Crime is crime, simple as that. If someone is willing to break the law to enter this country, that's twice the reason to keep them out.
38
"Should DHS not have accredited this fake university? Yes, because it can skew collected data about real educational institutions." -- Should government issue fake driver's license and try to prove to you it's legit? Yes, because it can collect data about identify fraud.
"but broken things should be fixed, not bypassed." -- If a system is broken, how can you define "bypass"? If a door is broken what's the different between walking through it and coming around it?
"Foreign nationals are not entitled to live in the United States, period." -- Am I living in medieval or feudal age or north Korea? For most US citizens, If they're not native American how did their ancestor came here and lived as "Foreign nationals"?
"If someone is willing to break the law to enter this country, that's twice the reason to keep them out." -- From the article: "The students enrolled at the University of Northern New Jersey had all come to the United States legally and had earned degrees from schools including the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan and Fordham." Please read before speaking.
"but broken things should be fixed, not bypassed." -- If a system is broken, how can you define "bypass"? If a door is broken what's the different between walking through it and coming around it?
"Foreign nationals are not entitled to live in the United States, period." -- Am I living in medieval or feudal age or north Korea? For most US citizens, If they're not native American how did their ancestor came here and lived as "Foreign nationals"?
"If someone is willing to break the law to enter this country, that's twice the reason to keep them out." -- From the article: "The students enrolled at the University of Northern New Jersey had all come to the United States legally and had earned degrees from schools including the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan and Fordham." Please read before speaking.
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Other than the whole 'not taking any classes' thing - I can appreciate their confusion.
16
Other than that detail.
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The important thing anyone reading this article should get from it is that the United States is in desperate need of immigration reform, period. The last time major reform was passed was in 1952 with the McCarren-Walter Act that was vetoed by President Truman and overrode by the Congress. There have been many changes to the Act since then, but not as major as the 1952 shift. Look: The F-1; J-1 and M-1 student visa programs are simply a designed cynical policy to keep American schools in business by bringing in foreign students and their dollars. These are make work programs for our domestic education mills. Is anybody shocked that the students view them as cynically as the government and schools (mills) who profit from them? Let's get real... Wake up Congress and pass meaningful reform to get the fraud and stupidity out of out non-immigrant visa programs. Until you do, we'll continue to have San Bernardino nut jobs coming in on K-1s; Saudis coming in on M-1s to learn how to take planes off but not learn how to land them and hordes of F-1s entering the county to work illegally, party like it's 1999 at their numerous American Universities and then leave our country when their done looking and acting like Delta House frat boys in National Lampoon's Animal House -- with America looking like the actual frat house! The current programs are a joke and that anybody will be prosecuted simply allows the feds to paint lipstick on their 'pig' non-immigrant student visas programs. Really?
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These students (and their families footing the pricey fees) know exactly what they are doing. I don't have an iota of sympathy for them.
41
So you mean those students are just so smart that they can figure out this school is fake and it's a national security operation? Wow I wonder if ever go to a foreign country, you can just so easily see through everything.
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How do you know ALL OF THEM are guilty?
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I don't care too much about the brokers being caught, especially if the government is saying they were predisposed to committing this kind of fraud anyway, and that they've done it in other instances, but how unfair is this for the students? People always say you should've realized something was sketchy, something was off about the deal, but as someone who's been scammed before while traveling (never induced to do anything illegal, but lost a good deal of money), it's really hard to recognize it when you're in the middle of a scam, especially if you don't know anything about the customs of the country. So maybe the students did know that they didn't have to go to class, but how would they have known that this kind of proposition is illegal?
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i completely agree with you. this sting strategy was completely wrong especially for the students.
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There's another side to the story: Lots of foreigners apply for entry as students because they want to immigrate to the US, not because they want to go to school there. If they had been serious about studying in the US, they would have researched UNNJ before applying. Were any bona fide US residents or citizens sucked in by the fake UNNJ ploy? I doubt it. At the very least, they'd seek information about UNNJ before applying, over the internet or a printed catalog.
33
very good point. and that's the bottom line.
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Giskander Grosse Pointe, Mich: Yes, I'm sure they researched the schools to find out if they were accredited. If you read the article you would have seen that the school was accredited on official sites, including Homeland Security's site. What more do you want?
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OK but it still smells of intentional entrapment by the USA govt. What is your point exactly? That everyone who matriculated somehow totally deserved it? Sigh.
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