Ex-Senior Immigration Official Arrested for Selling Green Cards

A former senior U.S. immigration official is facing federal charges over allegations that he accepted money in exchange for helping people obtain immigration benefits. Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, who previously worked as a senior immigration services officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, was arrested Sept. 2 along with Adeniyi Akeem Somoye.

Federal prosecutors allege the two were involved in a scheme that operated from late 2019 until March 2026. According to investigators, Ganiyu allegedly used his government position to move immigration applications through the system improperly in exchange for payments.

Authorities claim the cases involved benefits including green cards, family sponsorships, removal of residency conditions and naturalization. Investigators further allege that normal USCIS safeguards were bypassed in certain cases, including required interviews, background checks, supervisory reviews and other procedural requirements.

Prosecutors say some of the applicants who received immigration benefits through the alleged arrangement would not otherwise have qualified.

“Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said. “When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately. Public corruption will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.”

Financial records reviewed during the investigation allegedly showed about $287,830 in unexplained cash deposits connected to Ganiyu, along with roughly $671,438 transferred through services including Zelle and Cash App.

Authorities say investigators also uncovered extensive WhatsApp communications between Ganiyu and Somoye. The investigation reportedly began in May 2025 after the USCIS Office of Investigations received information alleging that Ganiyu was personally selecting and processing certain immigration cases outside standard agency procedures.

Investigators later reviewed Ganiyu’s government email account and allegedly discovered financial records, including bank statements showing payments connected to Somoye.

Ganiyu began working for USCIS in November 2018 and held positions in Kansas, Texas and North Carolina before becoming a senior immigration services officer in Dallas in April 2024.

Authorities allege Ganiyu handled Somoye’s own naturalization application and approved it the same day in December 2022.

Investigators say Ganiyu later received approximately $138,392 in bank transfers from Somoye between May 2023 and January 2026. Another $21,900 allegedly came from a company controlled by Somoye.

Ganiyu resigned from USCIS in March 2026, citing “personal reasons,” according to court records. USCIS publicly condemned the alleged conduct following the arrests. “There is no place in this agency for corruption, abuse of authority, or violations of public trust,” the agency said.

FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said the accusations raise concerns about the integrity of the immigration system. “The alleged manipulation of immigration decisions for personal gain undermines the integrity of a process essential to our national security.”

Ganiyu has denied wrongdoing. His attorney, Alfonso Cabanas, said his client “denies any criminal conduct” and disputes the government’s interpretation of the financial transactions and immigration cases cited in the investigation. Federal prosecutors sought to keep Ganiyu in custody while the case proceeds, arguing that his international connections and travel history created a flight risk.

A federal magistrate judge instead allowed him to be released under several conditions, including GPS monitoring, travel restrictions and surrendering both his U.S. and Nigerian passports.

Ganiyu and Somoye are each charged with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official. If convicted, they could each face up to five years in federal prison and fines of as much as $250,000.

The investigation involved USCIS, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Dallas Field Office. The accusations remain allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.