Somehow this country continues to surprise me.
The Department of Homeland Security created a fake university, University of Farmington, back in 2015. The “university” is located in Michigan and it is marketed towards foreign-born students, mainly Indian students on F-1visas.
Up to 600 students were enrolled to start taking classes. Of those 600 students, 250 were arrested. More than 50% of students were granted voluntary departure and have since departed the United States.
For the remaining students, some of them have been ordered to be removed by an immigration judge and some have filed to contest to their removals.
Seven of the eight recruiters have received sentences ranging from 12-18 months in prison.
According to Detroit Free Press, the school was set up to look like an accredited university. The University of Farmington’s website claimed to provide students with a unique learning expiry exam offering graduate programs relating to STEM and business.
Most students were lured into enrolling through Curricular Practical Training.
“Many of the students had enrolled with the university through a program known as Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which allows students to work in the U.S through an F-1 visa program for foreign students. Some had transferred to the University of Farmington from other schools that had lost accreditation, which means they would no longer be in immigration status and allowed to remain in the U.S.”
According to Vox, the recruiters arrested played a huge role in the number of students that enrolled and tricking immigration officials.
“The recruiters told students not to advertise their enrollment because the university lacked the proper certification. According to an ICE spokesperson, the students had all transferred from accredited schools to the University of Farmington.”
“The recruiters were also paid to solicit fraudulent academic records for purposes of tricking immigration officials into granting students’ visas, according to the indictments.”
Attorneys of ICE agents and recruiters are arguing it is, in fact, the students that have been deceitful.
Their lawyers claim the students were fully aware that the school was fake and their only reasoning behind enrolling was so they could remain in the United States.
Unfortunately, being accused of being deceitful after being deceived and deported isn’t the end all be all. Most of these students aren’t wealthy people, but any college tuition has to be paid.
Detroit Free Press reported, “The fake university is believed to have collected millions of dollars from unsuspecting students. An email from the university’s president, named Ali Milani, told students that graduate programs’ tuition is $2,500 per quarter and the average cost is $1,000 per month.”
There have not been any reports on students filing lawsuits against the government for collecting the money, but there should be.
The US government tricked more than enough students for more years than they should have and they should know how these students feel after being kicked out of the country. These students who wanted a better life should be compensated for paying money to a fake school.