Former Senior USCIS Officer Arrested Over Alleged Scheme to Sell Immigration Benefits

A former U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer has been arrested in connection with an alleged corruption scheme in which immigration benefits were reportedly granted in exchange for payments.

Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu was arrested on September 2 and charged in a federal case involving allegations that he improperly used his position within USCIS to influence and approve immigration applications. Prosecutors say the alleged conduct continued for several years and involved payments from individuals seeking immigration benefits.

According to federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Texas, the alleged scheme operated from December 2019 through March 2026. Investigators accuse Ganiyu of helping applicants obtain permanent residency and citizenship by circumventing procedures that are normally required before such applications can be approved.

The cases allegedly involved several types of immigration applications, including Form I-485 applications for lawful permanent residence, family-based immigration petitions, applications involving conditions on permanent residency, and naturalization cases.

Alleged Payments and Immigration Approvals

Prosecutors allege that Ganiyu worked with Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, who was also arrested on September 2. Investigators reportedly found extensive communications between the two men through WhatsApp concerning the alleged arrangements.

Federal investigators also examined Ganiyu’s financial records. An affidavit filed in the case reportedly identified approximately $287,830 in cash deposits that investigators considered unexplained, along with approximately $671,438 in payments made through services including Zelle and Cash App.

According to the affidavit, some of those transactions were connected to people who had applications before USCIS. Investigators also noted that Ganiyu received approximately $407,838 in salary from the federal government between 2020 and 2025 and did not report another source of employment during that period.

The investigation reportedly began in May 2025 after USCIS’s Office of Investigations received information alleging that Ganiyu was handling certain immigration cases differently from established agency procedures.

Investigators subsequently reviewed his government email account and reportedly discovered personal financial records, including documentation of payments allegedly connected to Somoye.

Ganiyu’s Career With USCIS

Ganiyu joined USCIS in November 2018 and held positions in Kansas, Texas, and North Carolina. He was promoted to Senior Immigration Services Officer in Dallas in April 2024, according to the federal affidavit.

Investigators allege that he later became directly involved in processing an immigration application submitted by Somoye. According to the filing, Ganiyu assigned himself to Somoye’s naturalization case and approved the application on the same day in December 2022.

The affidavit further alleges that Ganiyu received approximately $138,392 from Somoye through bank transfers between May 2023 and January 2026. Investigators also identified an additional payment of approximately $21,900 from a company operated by Somoye.

Ganiyu left USCIS on March 21, 2026, reportedly giving “personal reasons” for his resignation.

Investigators Allege Normal Procedures Were Bypassed

Federal authorities accuse Ganiyu of circumventing several safeguards that are part of the immigration adjudication process.

Among the procedures investigators say were bypassed are required interviews, supervisory review, jurisdictional requirements, background checks and other agency controls. Prosecutors allege that these actions allowed some applicants to receive immigration benefits despite allegedly failing to meet the legal requirements.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould described the allegations as a serious abuse of public authority and said federal authorities would continue pursuing cases involving corruption within government agencies.

USCIS also said publicly that corruption, abuse of authority and violations of public trust have no place within the agency.

The investigation involved multiple federal agencies, including the USCIS Office of Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Dallas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham is handling the prosecution.

FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said the alleged manipulation of immigration decisions for financial benefit damages confidence in a system considered important to national security.

Judge Releases Ganiyu Under Conditions

Federal prosecutors asked the court to keep Ganiyu detained while the case proceeds. They argued that his U.S. and Nigerian citizenship, history of international travel, overseas financial accounts and property in Nigeria presented a potential flight risk.

A U.S. magistrate judge nevertheless ordered his release subject to conditions imposed by the court.

Ganiyu’s attorney argued that his client did not present a danger to the community and that measures such as GPS monitoring, restrictions on travel and surrendering his U.S. and Nigerian passports would provide sufficient assurance that he would appear for future court proceedings.

Ganiyu and Somoye each face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.

The charges remain allegations at this stage, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

USCIS and attorneys representing the defendants were contacted for comment regarding the case.