A USCIS officer, Amara Dukuly, has been apprehended by federal authorities amid allegations of a bribery scheme that operated for close to a decade. On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Department of Justice announced the arrest and charges facing the 43-year-old from Brookhaven, Pennsylvania. Dukuly, who has worked for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for over ten years, is accused of soliciting and accepting bribes to influence immigration decisions, including the issuance of green cards, visas, and work permits.
The criminal complaint, which was made public last Thursday, detailed the accusations against Dukuly. Despite his lack of authority to alter immigration statuses, Dukuly promised such services in exchange for financial gain. The DOJ's press release highlighted that the bribes Dukuly received were converted for his personal use. The scheme reportedly started in 2015 and persisted until the time of his arrest.
The case is under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Eve leading the prosecution efforts. While the U.S. Attorney David Metcalf, who announced the charges, did not disclose the number of individuals involved or the total sum of money, the investigation remains active, and officials are calling for the public's assistance with related information.
Dukuly's arrest follows a series of corruption cases within USCIS and other immigration services, where officials were convicted of accepting bribes for expediting or falsifying immigration documents. One notable case involved a USCIS officer in California sentenced to prison for accepting over $50,000 in bribes.
Corruption cases like these pose a significant risk to the integrity of the immigration system and public trust. Experts emphasize the necessity of robust internal oversight and enforcement measures to ensure fairness and accountability. The USCIS has responded to such incidents by implementing enhanced training and audit procedures to identify discrepancies.
If convicted, Dukuly faces up to 15 years in federal prison, in addition to fines and other penalties. Yet, in line with legal protocols, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The DOJ stresses that protocols are in place to protect against unauthorized activities.
This case echoes the broader effort by federal agencies to address insider corruption and protect the integrity of benefit programs. Legal analysts see the DOJ's action as a sign of commitment to holding civil servants accountable and as a potential deterrent to corrupt practices.
