Two individuals from Texas have found themselves in hot water with the law after being indicted on charges of visa fraud, money laundering, and RICO conspiracy. The Department of Justice announced the indictment of Abdul Hadi Murshid, 39, and Muhammad Salman Nasir, 35, for allegedly running a visa racket that defrauded the United States, with the intent of helping others to fraudulently obtain entry and immigration status, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The scheme reportedly leveraged the EB-2, EB-3, and H-1B visa programs. Defendants Murshid and Nasir, along with associated entities, are accused of placing sham job advertisements to fulfill Department of Labor requirements falsely, thereby paving the way for visa seekers to unlawfully enter the country. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham said, per the U.S. Attorney's Office, "These defendants are charged with engaging in extensive measures to hide a massive, multi-year, immigration fraud scheme through which they reaped substantial personal financial gain," underscoring the seriousness of the allegations.
The indictment also claims that the accused parties manipulated the labor certification process. They reportedly filed fraudulent visa petitions and immediately sought legal permanent residence status for the 'visa seekers' to secure green cards – all while receiving and funneling money in a way that made these non-existent jobs seem legitimate. Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock from the FBI's Dallas office highlighted the transgression, stating, "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will hold any individual accountable who misuses their position of trust for personal profit."
Both Murshid and Nasir made their initial court appearance on May 23, 2025, with government prosecutors requesting their detention, and the detention hearings are scheduled for May 30, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian McKay. If convicted, they are looking at up to 20 years in federal prison, furthermore, Murshid could face denaturalization if found guilty of unlawfully obtaining U.S. citizenship. While an indictment is simply an allegation at this point, it does carry heavy implications until proven otherwise in court. The credibility of the U.S. immigration system sits uncomfortably on the scales of justice as this case proceeds.
Other agencies involved in the investigation include Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ted Hocter, Tiffany H. Eggers, and Jongwoo Chung.
