A 45-year-old Liberian national, Morris Brown, has been arrested by federal authorities on multiple immigration fraud charges after investigators determined he falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to secure employment as a corrections officer in Minnesota.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Brown entered the United States in 2014 on a student visa but had his status terminated in 2015 when he failed to maintain a full course of study. Despite lacking lawful immigration status, Brown enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2014. He later went absent without leave in 2015 and was discharged under other than honorable conditions in 2022.
In 2020, Brown applied for lawful permanent residence through the Liberian Refugee Fairness program, but his application was denied after USCIS uncovered misrepresentations, including his failure to disclose prior military service and a false claim of U.S. citizenship. Federal authorities report additional fraud evidence surfaced during a review of Brown’s 2024 naturalization application, involving alleged marriage fraud and repeated false claims of citizenship in official documents. Records confirm Brown worked for the Minnesota Department of Corrections from May 2023 through October 2025.
After USCIS notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Brown was placed in removal proceedings and faces potential prosecution. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated, “This alien tried every trick in the book to remain in the United States after losing legal status. We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure he faces justice for his many violations of the law.” The Minnesota Department of Corrections confirmed Brown’s employment and noted they followed federal document-verification requirements during hiring. Commissioner Paul Schnell added, “If these federal allegations are accurate, this individual engaged in sophisticated efforts to misrepresent their identity, extending well beyond Minnesota.”
The case aligns with a broader initiative by the Trump administration to address immigration fraud. USCIS has expanded denaturalization referrals for individuals accused of lying or concealing material facts during naturalization, significantly increasing cases sent to the Department of Justice. Recent ICE actions have targeted illegal immigrants in sensitive public trust roles, including armed law enforcement positions.
