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California – A 46ـyearـold US citizen in Laguna Niguel, California and six alleged clients have been charged with participating in a ring of illegal testـtakers helping Middle Eastern ـ including Kuwaiti nationals obtain US student visas. Agents arrested 16 of Eamonn Daniel Higgins suspected clients who remained in Southern California while he was being charged, and another 42 individuals also involved could be subject to deportation proceedings.

Higgins made an appearance in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California Monday on one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. A not guilty plea was entered on behalf of Higgins by a judge and he has been released on 5,000 US dollars bail.

Reportedly charging up to $1,500 per student on English proficiency exams, writing assessments, English and math college placement tests, final exams and other college coursework that resulted in maintaining Fـ1 student visas, Higgins obtained thousands of dollars from foreign students from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar.

In one case, a blond woman working for Higgins was allowed to take an exam using a fake ID that paired her photo with a man”s Arabic name, said Debra Parker, acting deputy special agent in charge for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles.

The charges say the ring of illegal testـtakers operated for a period of over seven years at seven Southern California community colleges and three California State University campuses in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Dominguez Hills.

Between 2002 and 2009, he attended 10 different schools in Southern California, including Cal State L.A., Irvine Valley College and Santa Monica College, according to federal prosecutors. During that time, he studied sociology, marketing, English, business and math.

But Higgins was not a student and was not registered in any of the classes, authorities said. Rather, dozens of foreign students ـ all from the Middle East ـ were paying him to sit in class, take exams and write papers so that their student visas would remain valid, according to a charging document filed in the caseU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents said the demand for Higgins” services was so great that he hired staff, such as the blond woman who they believe posed as an Middle Eastern man.

This case could implicate stricter visa procedures in the future for students seeking to study in the US and a tougher identity verification process followed by schools when applicants take the mandated exams.

Authorities have not said any of the clients were engaged in terrorist activity and have yet to determine their motives for hiring Higgins. Still, the investigation has alarmed immigration authorities.

Authorities believe Higgins earned hundreds of thousands of dollars helping about 120 people from maintain their student visa status.

“Visa fraud is always a concern but their motive is definitely something that all of the participating agencies will be taking a very, very close look at over the next few weeks,” Parker said. “It”s pretty sophisticated and it”s very impressive.”

On Monday, agents arrested the following men on suspicion of obtaining a visa through knowingly fraudulent means:

•Mohamed Khalfan Hazeem Taresh Almehairi of the United Arab Emirates

•Khalid Butti Khalifa Mohamed Almehairbi of the United Arab Emirates

•Ibrahim Salem Khalfan Almansoori, of the United Arab Emirates

•Abdullah Mohammed Alhogail of Saudi Arabia

•Mohammed Ali Alnuaim of Saudi Arabia

•Saeed Mohamed Hilal Zayed Alfalahi of the United Arab Emirates

All were enrolled at Irvine Valley College, according to a federal complaint filed in federal court against the suspects.

Ten additional students were reportedly not arrested but will be questioned by agents in the ongoing investigation.The agency plans to contact the campuses to make sure they are aware of the alleged fraud. The other campuses include: Saddleback College, Coastline Community College, Golden West College, Orange Coast College, El Camino College, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

officer escorts a student visa fraud suspect into custody today.”]

Nathan Jensen, senior director of the Center for International Education at CSU Long Beach, which has about 1,200 foreign students, said he was surprised to hear how widespread the alleged visa fraud case was.

“You always hear about rumors of this, that students will try to have somebody else take a test for them in certain circumstances. But I haven”t ever known of any cases or students here,” he said. “I would think that it would be more isolated or unusual.”

Jensen said the required placement tests have a reputation for being difficult, but the campus provides help for international students who are struggling, such as tutoring and preparation courses. Authorities said Higgins and his staff took Cal State placement exams in addition to tests required by the federal government.

Foreigners who want to study in the US must be accepted to a college or a university, apply for a student visa and pass an English proficiency exam. They must attend school full time to keep their visas valid, or face deportation.

The investigation into Higgins began last summer after police in Daly City, California, found a wallet with several fake California driver”s licenses, all bearing a photo of Higgins” nephew, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. The names were listed in federal databases as being foreigners on student visas and studying at various campuses in California.

During a search at Higgins” house, agents seized computers, graded college exams, 60 fraudulent California driver”s licenses, spiral notebooks with course notes, Scantron test forms and a check from a foreign student made payable to cash, according to court documents.In eـmails, Higgins allegedly pledged that the students would get B grades or be given a discount, the documents said.

Higgins told investigators that he had been working as a tutor when he met the first students and then word spread about his service, Parker said. His ability to balance course work and pass tests, she said, made him popular among foreign students.Oddly enough, Parker said, Higgins never went to college himself.

Al Watan & Reuters