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Iowa: Marriage Licenses Questioned
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Marriage applications involving Kenyans in question
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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - More than 50 marriage license applications involving Kenyans over the past year in four Iowa counties have prompted immigration officials to investigate for possible fraud.
Carmella Zente of the Polk County recorder's office said about 30 such marriage licenses have been issued in Polk County to residents of the East African country in about two months.
Some of the Kenyans seemed uncertain of the name of their intended spouse, many brought the same woman with them as a witness, and most listed the same address, she said Friday.
"We contacted the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and they said they already knew about it," Zente said.
Story County has issued about 15 such licenses in the past year. Warren County officials say they've had about six such applications in two months. There is also an investigation in Johnson County.
The recorders' offices have been asked to send copies of the information involving marriages between Americans and foreign visitors to their sheriff's departments and county attorney's offices, as well as the INS.
Because someone who marries a U.S. citizen becomes a permanent resident, some people try to gain residency through a sham marriage. The spouses and anyone who helped arrange the marriage could face federal charges, said Jerry Heinauer, Immigration and Naturalization Service district director for Iowa and Nebraska.
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