In 2015, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) set up a fake university as part of a sting operation meant to target student visa fraud. This month, an appeals court ruled that the affected students can sue the U.S. government over this initiative.
Creation and Exposure
ICE created the University of Farmington in 2015 to uncover student visa fraud and was exposed as an ICE front when eight individuals were indicted in 2019 on visa fraud as well as “harboring aliens for profit.” Over 130 students were also either deported or allowed to leave the country voluntarily.
Appeals Court Decision
The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision reverses an earlier decision that dismissed a lawsuit against the U.S. initiated by Ravi Teja Tiyagurra, an Indian student.
Legal Complaint
Ravi initiated a lawsuit in 2021, stating that he did not know the University of Farmington was not legitimate when he paid thousands of dollars in tuition. His legal complaint centers on his “entering into a contract” with a false university and that the institution had “breached that contract and the contract’s implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.”
Appeals Court Panel
In reversing the dismissal of the complaint, the appeals court panel of judges wrote, “The government’s operation eventually came to light, but the government neither provided the paid-for education nor gave Mr. Ravi his money back.”
Attorney’s Praise
Ravi’s attorney praised the decision: “The University of Farmington students and their legal team are ecstatic that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled to allow the 600 students unjustly targeted by this fake ICE university to have their day in court.”
Establishment of the Fake University
The Department of Homeland Security established the fake University of Farmington in Michigan and advertised it as a STEM-focused university.
Recruitment of International Students
Under the guise of the University of Farmington, ICE began recruiting international students who were trying to maintain a student visa status in the United States.
Arrests and Indictments
Several years later, in 2019, ICE arrested 130 students for immigration violations. ICE also arrested eight recruiters who were “harboring aliens for profit” and engaging in a conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Legal Proceedings and Sentences
After the raid in 2019, many recruiters pleaded guilty to committing visa fraud and harboring aliens for profit. They were sentenced for their criminal activities.
Deportations
Of the 130 students arrested, many were deported or allowed to leave the U.S. voluntarily.
Public and Lawmaker Response
The University of Farmington sting operation was largely unpopular with the public and lawmakers. Critics of the scheme called it “entrapment,” which seemed unjust to many.
Ongoing Ethical Debates
The ethics of the operation have continued to be argued in the courtroom, as student advocates argue that authorities mistreated the students and that the entire University was created to trap them.
Lack of Response from Authorities
Neither ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, nor the Department of Justice has responded publicly to the appeal’s court decision.
