U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has indicated that individuals involved in fraudulent marriages to obtain U.S. citizenship should expect prosecution. The statement comes after a California teacher, identified as Laura Pinho, revealed in a webinar that she married a man in Gaza to "equalize the playing field".
Pinho, a CODEPINK activist and public school teacher, stated in a June 16 webinar that as an American citizen, she possesses power and a passport, which she felt compelled to use to "equalize the playing field" in any way possible. A marriage record from Utah County Clerk shows Pinho, 51, married Salem S.E. Abu Amra on April 5. Utah permits virtual marriages provided both parties have valid identification and a marriage license.
Approximately one month before the wedding, Pinho initiated a GoFundMe campaign for Abu Amra, describing him as the primary caregiver for a family of five and stating his days were occupied with securing clean water, foraging for food, and supporting his family's survival.
Social Media Activity Under Scrutiny
Records indicate that Abu Amra has a history of social media posts that appear to support terrorism. In November 2018, he shared an image of a rifle with a rose, accompanied by the word "Palestine" in English and Arabic. In 2019, he posted a tribute to Baha Abu al Atta, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist killed in an Israeli airstrike that year. Also in 2019, he posted a text mosaic of interlocking rifles formed by the word "Palestine" in various languages.
In December 2024, Pinho herself shared a meme on Facebook asserting that Israel was founded by "Satanic bankers."
Pinho has denied marrying Abu Amra to facilitate his U.S. citizenship, telling The Post that she is "wildly in love" with him. She explained her omission of this detail in the webinar by stating her ex-partner was present and within earshot at the time.
Federal Law and USCIS Capabilities
Marriage fraud for green cards is a federal offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. USCIS, operating under the Department of Homeland Security, has stated that its capabilities to investigate marriage fraud have been enhanced, according to the Department of Justice. USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler affirmed the agency's commitment to aggressively pursuing individuals engaged in marriage fraud to obtain immigration benefits.