US authorities arrest 3 Filipinos in citizenship fraud, immigration cases

NEW YORK — A Filipino-born US citizen and her nephew, a member of the US Air Force, have been arrested in Colorado for allegedly carrying out an immigration fraud scheme that ultimately helped the nephew obtain US citizenship.

In a separate case in Las Vegas, a Filipino with an alleged history of criminal activity was apprehended for overstaying in America for more than two decades.

Federal prosecutors in Colorado charged Myra Paule Schulenburg, 46, and her nephew, John Paule Rivera, 30, with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.

Rivera faces additional charges, including making false statements on immigration documents, unlawfully obtaining citizenship, and misusing evidence of citizenship.

Authorities allege that Schulenburg, who was born in the Philippines and later became a naturalized US citizen, falsely claimed that Rivera was her son after he entered the United States on a J-1 exchange visitor visa in 2017.

She allegedly submitted an altered Philippine birth certificate with an immigration petition, allowing Rivera to obtain lawful permanent resident status.

Rivera later joined the US Air Force and applied for naturalization while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

Prosecutors claim that he falsely denied ever providing fraudulent or misleading information to US immigration authorities. He became a US citizen on October 11, 2022.

The alleged scheme was uncovered after Rivera later filed a petition for his actual mother and submitted his authentic Philippine birth certificate. USCIS detected the discrepancy, triggering the investigation.

Schulenburg faces up to five years in prison, while Rivera faces up to 10 years in prison on some charges and could also lose his US citizenship if convicted.

Meanwhile in Las Vegas, officers with ICE Salt Lake City arrested Jaime Tan Francisco, 55, a Philippine national, who authorities say remained in the United States after his authorized stay expired in October 2000.

According to ICE, Francisco has prior convictions for misdemeanor harassment in 2006 and methamphetamine possession in 2014.

He was also arrested by Las Vegas police on July 25 on allegations including domestic battery, drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer, and attempted arson.

Francisco originally entered the United States through Detroit in April 2000 and was authorized to remain until October 26, 2000, but allegedly stayed beyond that date.

ICE took Francisco into custody on August 2, and he will remain detained pending removal proceedings.

GMA News has reached out to the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles regarding the Francisco case, and the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco regarding the Schulenburg and Rivera case. — VDV, GMA News