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|website = {{url|https://universityoffarmington.edu/}} |website = {{url|https://universityoffarmington.edu/}}
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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> 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">{{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> 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>


The sting was disclosed to the public on 30 January 2019 with the Homeland Security and ICE arresting eight “recruiters” of Indian nationality, who supposedly made more than $250,000 from the university, and charging them on grounds of 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><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> Around 130 students (of whom, 129 were from ]) were also arrested for violation of immigration laws and face deportation. The sting was disclosed to the public on 30 January 2019 with the Detroit News<ref name="Antonia" /> reporting about the Dept. of Homeland Security and ICE arresting eight “recruiters” of Indian nationality, who supposedly made more than $250,000 from the university, and charging them on grounds of 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><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> Around 130 students (of whom, 129 were from ] and mostly of Telegu origin<ref name=":0" />) were also arrested for violation of immigration laws and face deportation.

⚫ 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 == == 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.<ref name="NYT_31Jan" /> 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" /> The University of Farmington<nowiki>'s headquarters was in the basement of North Valley office complex located on Northwestern Highway north of Inkster Road in Farmington Hills. It had its own website that claimed to ''provides students from throughout the world a unique educational experience''</nowiki> and provided relevant program details along with other allied information. It also claimed to be accredited by the ] and the ] and was also apparently 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" />


The university did not have instructors or actual classes.<ref name="NYT_31Jan" /> The yearly fee for undergraduates was $8,500, which is very low for US standards.<ref name=":0">{{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> According to Matt Friedman, who worked in the same complex, said that the university had no classrooms and he never saw anyone there.<ref name=":1" />
⚫ 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" />


==Criticism== ==Criticism==

Revision as of 14:09, 3 February 2019

University of Farmington
MottoScientia Et Labor
TypeICE-created fake university
Active2015–2019
Undergraduates600+
LocationFarmington Hills, Michigan, U.S.
Websiteuniversityoffarmington.edu

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.

The sting was disclosed to the public on 30 January 2019 with the Detroit News reporting about the Dept. of Homeland Security and ICE arresting eight “recruiters” of Indian nationality, who supposedly made more than $250,000 from the university, and charging them on grounds of visa fraud and harbouring aliens for profit. Around 130 students (of whom, 129 were from India and mostly of Telegu origin) were also arrested for violation of immigration laws and face deportation.

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

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. It had its own website that claimed to ''provides students from throughout the world a unique educational experience'' and provided relevant program details along with other allied information. It also claimed to be accredited by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and was also apparently authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to admit foreign students.

The university did not have instructors or actual classes. The yearly fee for undergraduates was $8,500, which is very low for US standards. According to Matt Friedman, who worked in the same complex, said that the university had no classrooms and he 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.

India has issued a démarche asking for the immediate release of the students and requesting against any non-voluntary deportation.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mervosh, Sarah (31 January 2019). "ICE Ran a Fake University in Michigan to Catch Immigration Fraud". The New York Times.
  2. Warikoo, Niraj (30 January 2019). "Farmington Hills fake university set up by ICE to nab foreign students". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. 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)
  5. 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)
  6. ^ 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)
  7. ^ 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.
  8. "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)
  9. Press Trust of India (31 January 2019). "Indians studying in a fraudulent university arrested". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  10. "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.

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