A California public school teacher and activist could face prosecution if her recent marriage to a man in Gaza is found to be fraudulent, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said.
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler stated that individuals involved in such marriages should expect to be discovered and prosecuted. Federal law carries penalties of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for marriage fraud.
Laura Pinho, a Los Angeles dance teacher affiliated with the group CODEPINK, married Salem S.E. Abu Amra on April 5 in Utah. During a June 16 webinar, she described the marriage as a way to use her U.S. citizenship to equalize opportunities for the man.
Pinho later denied the marriage was for immigration purposes, saying she is wildly in love with her husband. Her former domestic partner, Derek J. Reid, told reporters he had no prior knowledge of the marriage and expressed concerns about her activism.
Immigration attorney Michael Wildes noted that public comments acknowledging an immigration motive could prompt federal investigation. USCIS said it will aggressively pursue such cases.
