The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), also known as the Immigration Bureau, announced on Wednesday (February 18th) that Liberian illegal immigrant Morris Brown was arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis on January 15th on charges of multiple violations of U.S. immigration law, including overstaying his student visa and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
Brown, 45, had last entered the U.S. in 2014 on a non-immigrant student visa, which was terminated in 2015 due to failure to complete all coursework. Despite lacking legal status, he joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in 2014 but went AWOL the following year. In 2022, he was arrested, dishonorably discharged from the military, and released.
In 2020, Brown applied for a green card under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Program, but his application was denied by immigration authorities due to false statements, including failure to disclose his previous military service and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. In 2024, he engaged in fraud again by applying for naturalization based on his prior military service.
During the large-scale “Operation Twin Shield” in 2025, immigration investigators scrutinized Brown’s naturalization application, uncovering evidence of marriage fraud and previous instances where he falsely claimed U.S. citizenship in official documents.
Investigators also found that Brown, without legal immigration status, misrepresented himself as a U.S. citizen and worked as a corrections officer in Minnesota.
The case has been referred to ICE by the immigration authorities. Brown is facing deportation proceedings and may face criminal prosecution for immigration fraud, false claims of U.S. citizenship, and other related offenses.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated, “This foreign national has gone to great lengths to try to remain in the U.S. after losing his legal status. We will utilize all means to ensure he faces legal consequences for his multiple illegal actions.”
He further mentioned, “Operation Twin Shield continues to be effective, and the Department of Homeland Security is tirelessly pursuing those who attempt to deceive the immigration system.”