CNMI Man Sentenced for Visa Fraud Against Filipino Workers
Six workers from the Philippines came to the Northern Mariana Islands expecting jobs and fair pay. Instead, they were forced to work without pay, live in degrading conditions, and had their passports taken away. Their employer just received his sentence — and it took over a year of federal investigation to get there.
What happened in Saipan
Angel Paras Cruz Jr., 82, of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), was sentenced for visa fraud after forcing six Filipino workers into exploitative conditions. A U.S. Attorney's Office announcement on June 29, 2026 confirmed the sentence: one year of home detention, three years of probation, a $15,000 fine, a $300 special assessment fee, and $28,273.31 in restitution paid to his victims.
From August 2023 to January 2024, Cruz brought the six workers to the Northern Mariana Islands using the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) Visa Program — a special visa category for workers in the CNMI. He gave false information to the workers, to USCIS, and to the U.S. Department of Labor about wages, work hours, and job duties. Once the workers arrived, he used fear and intimidation to force them to work overtime — including nights and weekends — without pay. He also made them live in degrading conditions and took their passports, which is illegal.
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How USCIS helped crack the case
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) played a key role in the investigation for over a year. USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) officers worked alongside federal law enforcement, including the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Saipan. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth R. Backe in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
What to do
- If you are a visa worker and your employer takes your passport, know that this is illegal. You have the right to keep your own travel documents.
- If your employer is not paying you as promised in your work contract, you can report this to the U.S. Department of Labor and to USCIS using the USCIS Tip Form at uscis.gov.
- If you are being threatened or intimidated by your employer, contact law enforcement or a local legal aid organization. You do not need to fear deportation to report abuse — lawyers recommend speaking with an immigration attorney first to understand your options.
- If you suspect visa fraud or worker abuse, report it to USCIS through the official USCIS Tip Form at uscis.gov.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Workers on employer-sponsored visas like the CW-1 are especially vulnerable because their legal status is tied to the sponsoring employer — but that does not mean they have no rights. If your employer confiscates your passport, forces unpaid labor, or misrepresents your job terms to USCIS, those are federal crimes, and you may qualify for a U visa (a visa for victims of certain crimes who help law enforcement) which could protect you from deportation while the case is investigated. Document everything — pay stubs, contracts, messages — and consult an immigration attorney before you quit or confront your employer, as the timing of your actions can affect your visa status.