| Revision as of 13:32, 3 February 2019 editYngvadottir (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users50,628 edits Putting back changed version of report onm Mannam's statement, except for the italics.← Previous edit | Revision as of 13:34, 3 February 2019 edit undoWinged Blades of Godric (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers40,041 edits A lot of copy-editing and trimming needs to be done...Edit-conflict, checking in a moment for removed edits.Tags: nowiki added Visual edit: SwitchedNext edit → | ||
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| |website = {{url|https://universityoffarmington.edu/}} | |website = {{url|https://universityoffarmington.edu/}} | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| The '''University of Farmington''' was a ] set up in 2015 in ] by the ] (ICE) as a part of a ].<ref name="NYT_31Jan" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/2019/01/30/farmington-university-immigrant-arrests/2724992002/|title=Farmington Hills fake university set up by ICE to nab foreign students|last=Warikoo|first=Niraj|date=30 January 2019|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2019-01-31|language=en}}</ref> |
The '''University of Farmington''' was a ] set up in 2015 in ] by the ] (ICE) as a part of a ].<ref name="NYT_31Jan" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/2019/01/30/farmington-university-immigrant-arrests/2724992002/|title=Farmington Hills fake university set up by ICE to nab foreign students|last=Warikoo|first=Niraj|date=30 January 2019|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2019-01-31|language=en}}</ref> Code-named "Paper Chase", the sting was launched by the ] to expose ] ].<ref name=Antonia /> A total of around 600 students were involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/8-indians-arrested-in-us-visa-scam-hundreds-may-face-deportation-1986059|title=8 Indians Caught In Visa Scam In US Undercover Op, Many Face Deportation|last=Sudhir|first=Uma|date=31 January 2019|website=NDTV.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> | ||
| It was first reported on by ].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2019/01/30/federal-agents-used-fake-michigan-university-to-find-undocumented-immigrants/2722791002/|title=Feds used fake Michigan university in immigration sting|last=Snell|first=Robert|date=30 January 2019|website=Detroit News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131014820/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2019/01/30/federal-agents-used-fake-michigan-university-to-find-undocumented-immigrants/2722791002/|archive-date=31 January 2019|dead-url=|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> Homeland Security and ICE arrested around 200 students on 30 January 2019 who face deportation. Of the 130 students arrested, 129 were from ]. Eight “recruiters”, who supposedly made more than $250,000 from the university, were also arrested and charged with ''visa fraud'' and ''harbouring aliens for profit''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hundreds-of-indian-students-face-jail-deportation-in-us-college-scam/story-NelUt7N8HnUZf6KM1Z6xgJ.html|title=Hundreds of Indian students face jail, deportation in US college scam|last=Raj|first=Yashwant|date=31 January 2019|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>, on grounds of theirs' enrolling over 600 students by dubious means. India issued a diplomatic note concerning the "dignity and well-being of the detained students and the need for immediate consular access".<ref>{{cite web | |||
| ⚫ | == University == | ||
| ⚫ | |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-issues-demarche-to-us-on-detention-of-students/story-1ql6ruNRSJpV9BhZYPxnFM.html|title=India issues demarche to US on detention of students: Officials from the Indian embassy and consulates in the US visited several detention centres and about 30 students have so far been contacted by consular officers|date=February 3, 2019|publisher=Hindustan Times|location=New Delhi}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| According to the prosecutors, the students enrolled in the university solely to maintain their student-visa status, despite being aware |
According to the prosecutors, the students enrolled in the university solely to maintain their student-visa status, despite being aware <nowiki>''</nowiki>that they would not attend any actual classes, earn credits or make academic progress towards an actual degree." <ref name="NYT_31Jan" /> \ | ||
| ⚫ | == University of Farmington == | ||
| ==Reaction== | |||
| ⚫ | According to the indictments the university had its own real website that provided the program details, tuition pricing and contact information. The phone number of the university was directed to a voice mail box for the "office of admissions". The university did not have instructors or actual classes.<ref name="NYT_31Jan" /> The "about" section of the school's website wrote: "University of Farmington traces its lineage back to the early 1950s, when returning soldiers from the Second World War were seeking a quality and marketable education."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://universityoffarmington.edu/about|title=About|last=|first=|date=31 January 2019|website=The University of Farmington|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131064242/https://universityoffarmington.edu/about|archive-date=31 January 2019|dead-url=|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> As per the website, the University is accredited by the ] and the ] and "authorized by the ] to admit foreign students".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://universityoffarmington.edu/factoids|title=Factoids|last=|first=|date=31 January 2019|website=The University of Farmington|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131064227/https://universityoffarmington.edu/factoids|archive-date=31 January 2019|dead-url=|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref><ref name=Antonia>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/31/ice-set-up-fake-university-hundreds-enrolled-not-realizing-it-was-sting-operation/?utm_term=.dd84fd2b19dc|title=ICE set up a fake university. Hundreds enrolled, not realizing it was a sting operation.|last=Noori Farzan|first=Antonia|date=31 January 2019|work=Washington Post|access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref> As per the website of the University of Farmington graduate tuition quarter yearly is $2,500, which is very low for US standards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/eight-indians-arrested-on-charges-of-facilitating-foreigners-illegally-stay-in-us-as-students/article26135515.ece|title=Indians arrested, students detained in U.S. on visa fraud charges|last=Lakshman|first=Sriram|date=31 January 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-01-31|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/indians-studying-in-a-fraudulent-university-arrested-119013100096_1.html|title=Indians studying in a fraudulent university arrested|last=Press Trust of India|first=|date=31 January 2019|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> The University of Farmington's headquarters was in the basement of North Valley office complex located on Northwestern Highway north of Inkster Road in Farmington Hills. According to Matt Friedman, who worked in the same building, the university had no classrooms and never saw anyone there.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
| ⚫ | In its coverage of the incident, the '']'' quoted Ravi Mannam, an immigration lawyer based in Atlanta, who criticised the operation as "misleading" and accused the government of utilizing |
||
| ==Criticism== | |||
| A large number of ] from India were reportedly enrolled as students;<ref name=Antonia/> of the 130 students arrested, 129 were from India, which issued a ] concerning the "dignity and well-being of the detained students and the need for immediate consular access".<ref>{{cite news | |||
| ⚫ | In its coverage of the incident, the '']'' quoted Ravi Mannam, an immigration lawyer based in Atlanta, who criticised the operation as "misleading" and accused the government of utilizing <nowiki>''</nowiki>very questionable and troubling methods to get these foreign students to join the institution", since some students were under the impression that their enrollment was being made in a legitimate program.<ref name="NYT_31Jan">{{cite news |last1=Mervosh |first1=Sarah |title=ICE Ran a Fake University in Michigan to Catch Immigration Fraud |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/us/farmington-university-arrests-ice.html |publisher=The New York Times |date=31 January 2019}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-issues-demarche-to-us-on-detention-of-students/story-1ql6ruNRSJpV9BhZYPxnFM.html |
||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 13:34, 3 February 2019
 | |
| Motto | Scientia Et Labor |
|---|---|
| Type | ICE-created fake university |
| Active | 2015–2019 |
| Undergraduates | 600+ |
| Location | Farmington Hills, Michigan, U.S. |
| Website | universityoffarmington |
The University of Farmington was a fake university set up in 2015 in Michigan by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a part of a sting operation. Code-named "Paper Chase", the sting was launched by the United States Department of Homeland Security to expose student visa fraud. A total of around 600 students were involved.
It was first reported on by Detroit News. Homeland Security and ICE arrested around 200 students on 30 January 2019 who face deportation. Of the 130 students arrested, 129 were from India. Eight “recruiters”, who supposedly made more than $250,000 from the university, were also arrested and charged with visa fraud and harbouring aliens for profit, on grounds of theirs' enrolling over 600 students by dubious means. India issued a diplomatic note concerning the "dignity and well-being of the detained students and the need for immediate consular access".
According to the prosecutors, the students enrolled in the university solely to maintain their student-visa status, despite being aware ''that they would not attend any actual classes, earn credits or make academic progress towards an actual degree." \
University of Farmington
According to the indictments the university had its own real website that provided the program details, tuition pricing and contact information. The phone number of the university was directed to a voice mail box for the "office of admissions". The university did not have instructors or actual classes. The "about" section of the school's website wrote: "University of Farmington traces its lineage back to the early 1950s, when returning soldiers from the Second World War were seeking a quality and marketable education." As per the website, the University is accredited by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and "authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to admit foreign students". As per the website of the University of Farmington graduate tuition quarter yearly is $2,500, which is very low for US standards. The University of Farmington's headquarters was in the basement of North Valley office complex located on Northwestern Highway north of Inkster Road in Farmington Hills. According to Matt Friedman, who worked in the same building, the university had no classrooms and never saw anyone there.
Criticism
In its coverage of the incident, the New York Times quoted Ravi Mannam, an immigration lawyer based in Atlanta, who criticised the operation as "misleading" and accused the government of utilizing ''very questionable and troubling methods to get these foreign students to join the institution", since some students were under the impression that their enrollment was being made in a legitimate program.
See also
- University of Northern New Jersey - another fake university by Homeland Security (2013-2016)
References
- ^ Mervosh, Sarah (31 January 2019). "ICE Ran a Fake University in Michigan to Catch Immigration Fraud". The New York Times.
- Warikoo, Niraj (30 January 2019). "Farmington Hills fake university set up by ICE to nab foreign students". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
- ^ Noori Farzan, Antonia (31 January 2019). "ICE set up a fake university. Hundreds enrolled, not realizing it was a sting operation". Washington Post. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
- Sudhir, Uma (31 January 2019). "8 Indians Caught In Visa Scam In US Undercover Op, Many Face Deportation". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Snell, Robert (30 January 2019). "Feds used fake Michigan university in immigration sting". Detroit News. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - Raj, Yashwant (31 January 2019). "Hundreds of Indian students face jail, deportation in US college scam". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - "India issues demarche to US on detention of students: Officials from the Indian embassy and consulates in the US visited several detention centres and about 30 students have so far been contacted by consular officers". New Delhi: Hindustan Times. February 3, 2019.
- "About". The University of Farmington. 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - "Factoids". The University of Farmington. 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - Lakshman, Sriram (31 January 2019). "Indians arrested, students detained in U.S. on visa fraud charges". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
- Press Trust of India (31 January 2019). "Indians studying in a fraudulent university arrested". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
External links
- University of Farmington website announcing that it has been closed
- Wayback machine archive of the university website when it was active