DONALD TRUMP’s administration begins crackdown on people using fake marriages to acquire U.S. citizenship

Thursday, August 13, 2026 - The United States has launched a sweeping crackdown on fraudulent marriages used to obtain immigration benefits.

Federal prosecutors announced the arrest of 11 individuals accused of orchestrating a decade-long scheme that allegedly arranged more than 1,000 sham marriages between U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.

According to the Department of Justice, some foreigners paid up to Ksh12.94 million ($100,000) to be paired with Americans, while participants received up to Ksh3.88 million ($30,000).

The network, centered in New York but operating across several states and overseas, allegedly recruited hundreds of Americans to enter into fake marriages.

To sustain the illusion, defendants staged wedding ceremonies, posed for photographs, opened joint bank accounts, filed tax returns together, and even took out insurance policies.

Investigators further claim participants were coached on how to answer immigration interview questions and assisted in filing Green Card applications containing false information.

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration is determined to root out fraud within the immigration system, warning that attempts to illegally secure citizenship or residency will face severe consequences.

 Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the stance, declaring, “American citizenship is not for sale.”

While marriage to a U.S. citizen remains a legitimate pathway to residency and eventual citizenship, officials stress it does not automatically confer citizenship and requires strict compliance with immigration rules.

For Kenyans in genuine marriages, the crackdown does not abolish the route but underscores heightened scrutiny and the risks of providing false information.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.