January 21, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Columbus, Ohio, U.S. — A Ghanaian national has been arrested in the United States after attempting to obtain immigration benefits while concealing a prior criminal conviction, U.S. authorities confirmed on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The incident highlights intensifying immigration enforcement and scrutiny of fraud in the U.S. legal immigration system.
According to a statement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the man whose identity has not been publicly released visited a USCIS office in Columbus, Ohio seeking immigration relief when officers uncovered discrepancies in his application. A routine review revealed that he had previously been convicted of credit card fraud, information he had failed to disclose in his paperwork.
“A Ghanaian alien convicted of credit card fraud came to our Columbus, Ohio office looking for immigration benefits,” USCIS said in a social media post. “He tried to hide his criminal past, but officers unveiled the truth. @ICEgov arrived to take him into custody.”
Once the fraud was uncovered, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers promptly arrived and took the suspect into custody. The arrest underscores the U.S. government’s enforcement against immigration fraud and misrepresentation, key grounds under federal law for denying immigration benefits and initiating removal proceedings.
Immigration law requires applicants to fully disclose prior criminal convictions and material facts about their background. Failure to do so can result in denial of visas or adjustments of status, deportation and permanent bars to future legal entry to the United States. Enforcement actions such as this are part of broader efforts to uphold the integrity of U.S. immigration processes.
Observers say the arrest comes amid a broader tightening of U.S. immigration enforcement under current policies, including stepped-up reviews of visa applicants’ backgrounds and compliance with legal requirements. Critics argue that some policies have led to increased detentions and court proceedings that affect both individuals with serious criminal histories and those with tenuous legal status, often with significant humanitarian implications.
The Ghanaian national’s fate now rests with the U.S. court system, where he will likely face immigration removal proceedings and possible deportation. Should the case proceed, he could be barred from future legal immigration attempts a severe consequence for non-citizens who misrepresent material facts on official applications.
At press time, it was not immediately clear whether Ghana’s diplomatic mission or legal representatives had responded to inquiries about the arrest or plans to assist the detained individual through the U.S. legal process.
Background: U.S. immigration authorities have increasingly pursued immigration fraud and enforcement cases with broader scope, including arrests of foreign nationals who overstay visas or otherwise violate immigration laws, sometimes prompting bilateral discussion with countries like Ghana over deportations and legal oversight.