DHS Security Information, Notes, Research, Or Other Matters Concerning Political Fugitives, Most Wanted Individuals, Or Relatives Of Such Using The EB-5 Program

Taylor Scott Amarel filed this request with the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America.
Tracking #

2018-HQFO-00279, 2018-HQFO-00477

Status
Completed

Communications

From: Taylor Scott Amarel

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

To whom this may concern,

I am seeking all records within the DHS that relate to Political Fugitives, Most Wanted Individuals, or relatives of such individuals using/investing in the EB-5 Program. These documents are known to exist because members of congress, other federal agencies, and former officers of the USCIS/DHS have admitted that a number of "most wanted" individuals have invested through the EB-5 program. These individuals are often on China's 100 most wanted list, are related to one of the most wanted individuals, or have political/business connections to those who are wanted for political persecution and or crimes - such as embezzling government funds, corruption, etc.

As a specific instance, there is evidence within the USCIS that relatives (at least Bo Guagua and Li Wangzhi) of Bo Xilai, Former Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, have used the EB-5 program to invest in a unspecified New York based EB-5 project that may be located near or adjacent to Columbia University. This is just one instance of high level, potentially wanted, individuals with often dangerous backgrounds may be utilizing the EB-5 program to obtain citizenship and residence within the US. I would like to obtain all records, memos, notices, and other documents pertaining to the acknowledgement of these types of individuals filing EB-5 petitions, any special instructions given to EB-5 adjudicators, whether or not additional background research is done on these individuals, and whether the USCIS enlists the help of additional law enforcement agencies to vet these unusual applicants.

Once again, these documents are known to exist, and may be in the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate office, or an inter-agency working groups that may consist of the SEC, USCIS, DHS, HSI, etc. As further proof that these records exist, when the FBI raided a fake investment company in California, it was discovered that numerous "most wanted" individuals had obtained residence and even citizenship through a fake investment scheme discussed here: http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2085287/scheme-wealthy-chinese-get-us-visas-busted

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Taylor Scott Amarel

From: Department of Homeland Security

Good Morning, Attached is our final response to your request.  If you need to contact this office again concerning your request, please provide the DHS reference number. This will enable us to quickly retrieve the information you are seeking and reduce our response time. This office can be reached at 866-431-0486. Thank you! Regards, DHS Privacy Office Disclosure & FOIA Program
STOP 0655
Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20528-0655
Telephone:  1-866-431-0486 or 202-343-1743
Fax:  202-343-4011
Visit our FOIA website

From: Department of Homeland Security

Good morning Mr.Amarel,

Hope you are well. We have received your FOIA requests and are working on them at the moment. Just wanted to let you know that we are combining your requests into one. Also wanted to ask if you would be up for shortening your timeframe to 2017- to the present, as we have a very large backlog. Please let me know soon.

Best,

Nida Habib | FOIA Analyst | eGlobalTech (Contractor)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security | Privacy Office
(202) 343-1743

nida.habib@associates.hq.dhs.gov<mailto:nida.habib@associates.hq.dhs.gov>

This is covered by federal and state law governing electronic communications and may contain confidential and legally privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, use or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please reply immediately to the sender and delete this message. Thank you.
[Homeland Seal]

From: Department of Homeland Security

Good Morning,
Attached is our acknowledgment of your DHS FOIA request.  If you need to contact this office again concerning your request, please provide the DHS reference number. This will enable us to quickly retrieve the information you are seeking and reduce our response time. This office can be reached at 866-431-0486.
Regards,
DHS Privacy Office Disclosure & FOIA Program
STOP 0655
Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20528-0655
Telephone:  1-866-431-0486 or 202-343-1743
Fax:  202-343-4011
Visit our
FOIA website (http://www.dhs.gov/foia)

From: Taylor Scott Amarel

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

To whom this may concern,

I am seeking all records within the DHS that relate to Political Fugitives, Most Wanted Individuals, or relatives of such individuals using/investing in the EB-5 Program. These documents are known to exist because members of congress, other federal agencies, and former officers of the USCIS/DHS have admitted that a number of "most wanted" individuals have invested through the EB-5 program. These individuals are often on China's 100 most wanted list, are related to one of the most wanted individuals, or have political/business connections to those who are wanted for political persecution and or crimes - such as embezzling government funds, corruption, etc.

As a specific instance, there is evidence within the USCIS that relatives (at least Bo Guagua and Li Wangzhi) of Bo Xilai, Former Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, have used the EB-5 program to invest in a unspecified New York based EB-5 project that may be located near or adjacent to Columbia University. This is just one instance of high level, potentially wanted, individuals with often dangerous backgrounds may be utilizing the EB-5 program to obtain citizenship and residence within the US. I would like to obtain all records, memos, notices, and other documents pertaining to the acknowledgement of these types of individuals filing EB-5 petitions, any special instructions given to EB-5 adjudicators, whether or not additional background research is done on these individuals, and whether the USCIS enlists the help of additional law enforcement agencies to vet these unusual applicants.

Once again, these documents are known to exist, and may be in the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate office, or an inter-agency working groups that may consist of the SEC, USCIS, DHS, HSI, etc. As further proof that these records exist, when the FBI raided a fake investment company in California, it was discovered that numerous "most wanted" individuals had obtained residence and even citizenship through a fake investment scheme discussed here: http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2085287/scheme-wealthy-chinese-get-us-visas-busted

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Taylor Scott Amarel

From: Department of Homeland Security

GM Mr Ameral, (Sara please forward to Mr. Amerel the email address for the FOIA inbox)

Please forward all future status request emails to our FOIA inbox so that person can forward to the proper specialist in our office.

These requests are not assigned to me.

A quick review of the above indicate that 279 was transferred to USCIS (Claudia is assigned to that one) and the other on 477 Nida is the specialist and she sent you a letter in January that your request was not perfected.

We closed those in 30 days unless you perfect within 30 days.

Please reach back to either specialist directly if you have any questions.

Maura Busch
Government Information Specialist
Privacy Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Main: 1.866.431.0486
Direct: (202) 570-2018
Fax: (202) 343-4011
Visit our FOIA website

From: Department of Homeland Security

Mr. Ameral ,

In the future, please email FOIA request to FOIA@hq.dhs.gov<mailto:FOIA@hq.dhs.gov>.

Thank you,

Sara Yaakoub

From: Taylor Scott Amarel

Thank you,

I would like to resubmit the below request but limit it to the request to documents discussing working groups or working relationships between USCIS, FDNS, and ICE.

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

To whom this may concern,

I am seeking all records within the DHS that relate to Political Fugitives, Most Wanted Individuals, or relatives of such individuals using/investing in the EB-5 Program. These documents are known to exist because members of congress, other federal agencies, and former officers of the USCIS/DHS have admitted that a number of "most wanted" individuals have invested through the EB-5 program. These individuals are often on China's 100 most wanted list, are related to one of the most wanted individuals, or have political/business connections to those who are wanted for political persecution and or crimes - such as embezzling government funds, corruption, etc.

As a specific instance, there is evidence within the USCIS that relatives (at least Bo Guagua and Li Wangzhi) of Bo Xilai, Former Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, have used the EB-5 program to invest in a unspecified New York based EB-5 project that may be located near or adjacent to Columbia University. This is just one instance of high level, potentially wanted, individuals with often dangerous backgrounds may be utilizing the EB-5 program to obtain citizenship and residence within the US. I would like to obtain all records, memos, notices, and other documents pertaining to the acknowledgement of these types of individuals filing EB-5 petitions, any special instructions given to EB-5 adjudicators, whether or not additional background research is done on these individuals, and whether the USCIS enlists the help of additional law enforcement agencies to vet these unusual applicants.

Once again, these documents are known to exist, and may be in the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate office, or an inter-agency working groups that may consist of the SEC, USCIS, DHS, HSI, etc. As further proof that these records exist, when the FBI raided a fake investment company in California, it was discovered that numerous "most wanted" individuals had obtained residence and even citizenship through a fake investment scheme discussed here: http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2085287/scheme-wealthy-chinese-get-us-visas-busted

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Taylor Scott Amarel

From: Department of Homeland Security

Mr. Amarel,

Please re-submit per above your information as we can only attach one email to one request, ie confirm which request 279 or 477 you are referencing.

Thanks.

Maura Busch
Government Information Specialist
Privacy Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Main: 1.866.431.0486
Direct: (202) 570-2018
Fax: (202) 343-4011
Visit our FOIA website

From: Department of Homeland Security

FOIA Staffing Notification (https://first.uscis.gov/favicon.ico)

Hello,
You recently requested information from us under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
You
can receive this information faster by using our online FOIA request system,
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Step 1: Create a USCIS account to receive information online

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From: Department of Homeland Security

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

From: Department of Homeland Security

Taylor Scott Amarel -

The attached is in response to your FOIA request dated November 24, 2017, to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Sincerely,

INTERPOL Washington FOIA Service Center
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530
202-616-0201

From: Taylor Scott Amarel

Hi,

Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Taylor Scott Amarel

From: Department of Homeland Security

Dear Taylor Amarel:

This is in final response to your recent request for information from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.  Your request has been completed.  Our final response and any responsive documents are attached.

Thank you.

DISCLOSURE SERVICES
Communications Division
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

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