US suspects 4,000 cases of fraud in Iraqi refugee program: documents

US suspects 4,000 cases of fraud in Iraqi refugee program: documents

US authorities pursuing a sweeping fraud investigation suspect some 4,000 Iraqis of filing fraudulent applications for resettlement in the United States as refugees, and they are re-examining cases involving more than 104,000 others, according to State Department reports reviewed by Reuters. More than 500 Iraqis already admitted as refugees have been implicated in the alleged fraud and could be deported or stripped of their US citizenship, according to one document sent to members of Congress. It said there was ‘no indication to date that any of these 500+ individuals have ties to terrorism.’ The probe - one of the biggest into refugee program fraud in recent history - is fueling reservations among some in Joe Biden's administration as they debate whether to create a similar program to assist Afghan refugees as American troops withdraw after 20 years of war, US officials told Reuters. The reports show the investigation is more far-reaching and serious than US officials have disclosed since announcing in January a 90-day freeze of the Iraqi ‘Direct Access’ refugee program. The suspension, which in April was extended indefinitely by the State Department, followed the unsealing of an indictment accusing three foreign nationals of fraud, records theft and money laundering.