US probes operations of Rana's immigration services firm

Yoshita Singh
Chicago, Jan 3 (PTI) US authorities are probing the
operations of Pakistani-Canadian terror suspect Tahawwur
Rana's consultancy firm, for possible acts of immigration
fraud as part of wider investigation into an international
terror plot.

Federal authorities are working to determine the
immigration status of people who entered the US with the help
of First World Immigration Services, located in the city's
predominantly Indian-Pakistani area Devon Avenue.
"As part of a widening probe into an international terror
plot rooted in the city, US authorities are sharpening their
sights on First World Immigration in search of possible acts
of immigration fraud," the Chicago Tribune quoted sources
familiar with the probe as saying.
Prosecutors charge that the immigration centre served as
a front in the Chicago-based terror plot to bomb a Danish
newspaper that had published caricatures of Prophet Muhammad.
They also allege that Rana knew in advance of the 2008
Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people.
According to court filings, Rana allegedly conspired to
bring foreigners to the US under false pretenses.
In e-mail conversations, Rana advised an alleged member
of the militant Pakistani organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba about
"loopholes" to get individuals into the US.
"Whenever you find easy way to come to US, immediately
think there is a catch to it," Rana allegedly wrote in an
e-mail, warning against using student visas. (MORE) PTI YAS
MYR


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