ICE creates fake school, arrests 250

It has been 11 months since unsealed federal court documents revealed that U.S. immigration officials created a fake university to lure foreign-born college students who were trying to stay in the country on student visas that might not have been legal.

The University of Farmington, a fictitious school that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement marketed as a hub for STEM students who wanted to enroll and not “interrupt their careers” had a fake name, a fake website and a fake motto on its fake seal. “Scientia et Labor,” the seal read, which means “Knowledge and Work.”

In January 2019, eight people who allegedly worked as “recruiters” for the school and collectively helped at least 600 students remain in the country under false pretenses were charged with federal conspiracy. At the time, The Detroit News reported that dozens of University of Farmington students — many of them Indian nationals — were arrested for immigration violations and faced deportation.

Now, according to ICE, that number has jumped to about 250 students. Those arrests took place between January and July, ICE said in a statement first reported by the Detroit Free Press. Most of the arrests happened in February, immigration officials said.

Nearly 80% of those who were arrested chose to voluntarily leave the U.S., according to the ICE statement. Another 10% received a “final removal order,” officials said; the final 10% have challenged their deportations.

The University of Farmington was created, ICE officials said, to provide the Department of Homeland Security with “first-hand evidence of fraud.”

But Rahul Reddy, a Houston-based attorney involved with these students’ cases, says officials running the operation preyed upon unsuspecting students.

“They should not punish these people who were lured into a trap,” said Mr. Reddy, who represented or advised about 80 students who were arrested.

Student’s remains ID’d

Human remains discovered in a wooded area have been confirmed as belonging to a missing college student who was the stepdaughter of a well-known UFC fighter, Alabama authorities announced Wednesday.

The Auburn Police Department said the remains belong to Aniah Blanchard, 19. She was the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris.

Ms. Blanchard was last seen Oct. 23 in Auburn, Ala., at a gas station. Her black Honda CR-V was later found abandoned more than 50 miles away in Montgomery. Police said her blood was found in the car.

Ibraheem Yazeed, 29, is being held without bond on kidnapping charges. Police charged two other men with either helping dispose of evidence or hindering the investigation.

Suspect catcalled teen

A man charged with killing a 19-year-old University of Illinois at Chicago student last weekend spotted her on the street and grew frustrated when she didn’t respond to his catcalls, prosecutors alleged Tuesday.

Donald Thurman, 26, tried to talk to Ruth George early Saturday but became “angry he was being ignored,” Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said in court.

Mr. Thurman followed Ms. George into a parking garage and choked her until she fell unconscious, Mr. Murphy said. He then dragged her into her car and sexually assaulted her before fleeing on foot, the prosecutor said. He confessed Sunday, police said.