Former Senior USCIS Officer Arrested in Alleged Green-Card-for-Cash Scheme

A former senior officer at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was arrested on September 2, 2026, accused of approving and expediting immigration applications in exchange for payments. Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Texas allege the misconduct spanned from December 2019 through March 2026 and involved bypassing required federal reviews and controls.

Investigation Details

Prosecutors say Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu used his USCIS role to fraudulently approve Form I-485 applications for lawful permanent residence (green cards), family sponsorship petitions, requests to remove conditions on residency, and naturalization files. Authorities allege he approved and expedited cases by sidestepping interviews, supervisory oversight, jurisdictional rules, background checks and other standard procedures.

Alleged Evidence and Payments

An affidavit obtained by Newsweek documents approximately $287,830 in unexplained cash deposits into Ganiyu's accounts and about $671,438 in electronic transfers through Zelle, Cash App and similar platforms. Some transfers are tied to USCIS applicants. The filing also notes Ganiyu reported roughly $407,838 in salary between 2020 and 2025 and listed no other employment during that period.

Investigators say Ganiyu and an alleged co-conspirator, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, exchanged extensive WhatsApp messages and that Somoye paid Ganiyu hundreds of thousands of dollars. The affidavit alleges that Ganiyu assigned himself to Somoye’s naturalization file and approved it on the same day in December 2022, later receiving about $138,392 in bank transfers from Somoye and an additional $21,900 from a company Somoye controlled.

Procedural History

The probe began after the USCIS Office of Investigations received an allegation in May 2025 that Ganiyu was processing certain applicants outside normal policy. A review of his government email reportedly uncovered personal bank statements and records of multiple Zelle payments from Somoye. Ganiyu joined USCIS in November 2018 and served in Kansas, Texas and North Carolina before being promoted to Senior Immigration Services Officer in Dallas in April 2024. He resigned from the agency on March 21, 2026, citing "personal reasons," according to the court filing.

Legal Proceedings And Responses

Ganiyu and Somoye were arrested on September 2, 2026. Federal prosecutors sought to detain Ganiyu pending trial, citing his dual U.S.–Nigerian citizenship, international travel history, foreign bank accounts and property in Nigeria as indicators of flight risk. A U.S. magistrate judge ordered his release under conditions that include GPS monitoring, travel restrictions and surrender of passports. Defense counsel argued the government was not alleging he posed a danger to the community.

"Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust," U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in a statement. "Public corruption will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas."

"The alleged manipulation of immigration decisions for personal gain undermines the integrity of a process essential to our national security," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.

The case is being investigated by the USCIS Office of Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) and the FBI’s Dallas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham is prosecuting the matter. If convicted, Ganiyu and Somoye each face up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000.

Newsweek contacted USCIS and attorneys for both defendants for comment. This is a developing story; updates will follow.