U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

In 2016, homeland security officials warned Elena Maria Lopez about the “dangerous  man” she married and sponsored into her country.  By the time the feds  issued this belated warning, Lopez already knew he was dangerous. She had frantically sought help from these same officials years earlier but to no avail. Lopez was now living in hiding after New Jersey officials stepped in to protect her.

Years earlier, Lopez fled her home after her then-husband:

• admitted to marrying her only for citizenship;
• tried to strangle her;
• pulled a firearm on her;
• threatened to kill her if she ever contacted immigration authorities.

After local police, her district attorney and immigration authorities did  nothing, Lopez desperately sought help from a retired FBI agent.  Together, they found out she sponsored a violent criminal into the  United States -- and they documented it.

Lopez's former husband:

• should’ve been barred from entering the country because of large-scale criminal activities (including drug production, drug  trafficking, money laundering, insurance fraud and car theft);
• bypassed a background check when permanently entering the U.S. since he was marrying an American citizen;
• lied about material facts to get his K-1 fiancé visa  (felony);
• lied about material facts to get his green card  (felony);
• admitted to marrying Lopez for a green card  (felony);
• tried to kill her and repeatedly terrorized her to keep her quiet.

Elena's violent husband then became eligible for a special “domestic-violence green card."  To get this fast-tracked green card, one simply claims they're abused  by an American: No evidence, interviews or investigations are required.

Americans are barred from being interviewed or providing evidence. (Meaning Lopez and the retired FBI agent wasted time, energy and money collecting evidence.)

This unique type of green card is coveted since it also waives fraud, criminal activities and inadmissibility, and these green cards can’t be revoked -- even when flagged by national security investigators. 

A special social-work unit makes these homeland security decisions, thus barring trained immigration investigators from the process.  (See 2002  Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) memo after investigators  tried to revoke fraudulent "domestic-violence green cards"; See followup 2010 DHS memo after investigators again tried revocations based on fraud.)

By refusing to sign his final immigration papers and  reporting him to immigration authorities, Lopez subjected her foreign  husband to “extreme cruelty” based on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  [See "Immigration Control as Abuse";  AllLaw]
This landmark domestic-violence law has become the easiest way for  criminals and fraudsters to get fast-tracked green cards and U.S.  citizenship. 

Lopez remains in hiding to this day. 

Meanwhile,  her former husband continues living openly in the United States.   Despite this man's clearly documented violence, criminal activities and  fraud, the Department of Homeland Security gave a green card to someone  the agency itself identified as “dangerous.” 

He remains eligible to renew his fraudulent green card or apply for U.S. citizenship, which he might have already attained. ​​