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New York City Plagued by Criminals Selling Fake Documents to Migrants
The influx of nearly 180,000 migrants to New York City since the spring of 2022 has given rise to a thriving underground market catering to criminals affiliated with notorious gangs like MS-13.
According to a report from The New York Post, criminals have been observed openly peddling counterfeit green cards and social security cards to undocumented individuals on the city’s street corners.
These forged documents hold the power to open bank accounts, secure employment opportunities, and potentially acquire legitimate identification. Additionally, they can serve as a means to evade a history of criminal activities.
Bruce Foucart, a former special agent in charge of Homeland Security investigations in New England, raised concerns that with falsified IDs, individuals could easily engage in nefarious activities such as transporting explosives and orchestrating catastrophic events in high-profile locations like the Holland Tunnel.
“For someone intent on committing acts of terrorism or posing a national security threat, it is relatively simple to establish a dual identity within the United States,” stated Foucart. “I am certain that we are currently on the brink of another catastrophic incident akin to 9/11.”
Expert Insights on the Impact of Fake Documents
Roy Fenoff, an associate professor at the Department of Criminal Justice at the Citadel in South Carolina, highlighted the significant ramifications of counterfeit documents on migrants’ access to essential services that are typically only available with valid government identification.
He emphasized, “Once individuals obtain these fraudulent documents, they gain entry to the workforce, transportation facilities, and various essential services across the United States. Some individuals seeking these documents have ulterior motives, utilizing them to perpetrate criminal acts.”
Fenoff also drew attention to the complexity of using counterfeit social security cards with genuine numbers, noting that innocent U.S. citizens could inadvertently become embroiled in criminal activities. He recounted an incident involving a Denver woman whose identity was stolen and used in illicit activities.
Diego Ibarra, the sibling of Jose Ibarra, an undocumented individual facing charges related to the tragic murder of nursing student Laken Riley, is presently in federal custody concerning allegations of possessing a counterfeit green card.
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