WASHINGTON: A 52-year-old Pakistani-origin man, Muhammad Chaudhry, has been arrested by US immigration authorities for a decades-long fraud that included falsely claiming veteran benefits worth nearly $450,000, officials said.
Chaudhry, described by investigators as a serial offender, first entered the US in 1998 on a B-1 visitor visa, concealing his criminal history in Australia, which included five counts of financial deception, possession of stolen goods, and falsifying passports. Since then, he attempted to obtain permanent residency at least 10 times, each time providing false information, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
An Inspector General’s report revealed that Chaudhry fraudulently claimed he was a veteran deployed to Iraq, enabling him to collect $449,459.82 in taxpayer-funded benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. He also owes the US government $81,080 from a mortgage reduction grant, but has made no repayments.
Authorities said Chaudhry had been pursued since 2008, repeatedly appealing removal orders. This time, however, he was taken into custody during a scheduled USCIS appointment in Washington and now faces deportation after sentencing.
“Permitting him to remain in the United States despite his habitual abuse of our legal institutions would not be in the best interests of the United States,” a 2020 court order stated.
“USCIS is responsible for administering America’s lawful immigration system and ensuring the integrity of the immigration process,” said USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser, adding that the agency is working with ICE to “identify, detain, and remove bad actors who threaten the safety and integrity of our communities.”
