Dominican woman and US citizen arrested in San Juan for alleged marriage fraud
HSI agents detained Modestina Villanueva Javier and Erick Martínez Aulet last week on federal charges of marriage fraud and conspiracy to obtain immigration benefits.
The short version
- HSI reported that agents arrested Modestina Villanueva Javier and Erick Martínez Aulet in San Juan last week
- The pair face federal charges of marriage fraud and conspiracy according to HSI in San Juan
- HSI stated that a sham marriage to evade immigration laws is a serious federal crime
- Conviction for marriage fraud carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per Diario Libre
Arrests in San Juan
Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested a Dominican woman and a U.S. citizen in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on suspicion of participating in a sham marriage to obtain immigration benefits. The arrestees were identified as Modestina Villanueva Javier, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, and Erick Martínez Aulet, a U.S. citizen. Diario Libre reported.
Both individuals were formally charged with marriage fraud and conspiracy, HSI San Juan announced. The arrests occurred during the past week as part of federal efforts to detect fraudulent marriages used to circumvent U.S. immigration laws. Listín Diario reported.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
El matrimonio es un compromiso legal y personal para construir una vida juntos.
Our translation: Marriage is a legal and personal commitment to build a life together.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Diario Libre. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Agency statement
HSI described marriage as "a legal and personal commitment to build a life together" and stated that faking it to evade immigration laws turns it into a serious federal crime. The agency said it will continue investigating schemes that manipulate immigration procedures. Both sources carried the same HSI statement.
U.S. law under Title 8, Section 1325(c), provides for penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for marriage fraud, Diario Libre noted. Listín Diario reported that conspiracy to commit fraud can carry an additional five years.
Where the sources differ
Both Diario Libre and Listín Diario agree on the names of those arrested, the location (San Juan), the timing (last week), the charges (marriage fraud and conspiracy), and the core HSI statement. Diario Libre provides more detail on the specific U.S. Code section, the $250,000 fine, and the fact that a marriage petition is not an automatic grant of residency or citizenship. Listín Diario states that conspiracy can carry another five years in prison. The sources do not conflict on any material fact.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state when or where the alleged sham marriage took place, whether the couple lived together, what specific immigration benefits were sought or obtained, the current immigration status of Modestina Villanueva Javier, or the next court date. No information is given on possible co-conspirators or the length of the HSI investigation.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Dominicana arrestada en Puerto Rico por fraude matrimonial para obtener beneficios migratorios
- Reporting Dominicana arrestada en Puerto Rico por fraude matrimonial para obtener beneficios migratorios
- Reporting Arrestan a dominicana y estadounidense acusados de presunto fraude matrimonial en Puerto Rico
How we checked this
Diario Libre and Listín Diario both drew directly from the same HSI San Juan announcement. All details about the charges, penalties, and agency position rest on that single official source.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.