DHS Operation found a corrections officer in Minnesota who allegedly used false US citizenship claims to stay in the United States. The case was uncovered in January during a long-running immigration fraud crackdown.
In what US authorities are calling a significant immigration enforcement success, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) arrested 45-year-old Morris Brown on 15 January 2026 in Minnesota.
Officials say Brown worked as a prison guard while falsely claiming to be a United States citizen for more than a decade.
What is the DHS Operation That Led to This Arrest?
DHS Operation Twin Shield was the initiative that revealed Brown’s alleged crimes. This enforcement programme targets suspected immigration fraud across the US.
FAFO: Federal agents arrested several rioters at the Portland ICE facility on Presidents Day, with Border Patrol and DHS involved in the operation pic.twitter.com/bgCN9aPli5
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According to the DHS, Operation Twin Shield has been active under the Trump administration and continues under current enforcement priorities.
The operation focuses on detecting people who misuse visas, citizenship claims, or employment documentation to live and work illegally in the United States.
“Operation Twin Shield continues to deliver results as the Department of Homeland Security relentlessly pursues those who seek to cheat our immigration system.
We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure he faces justice for his many violations of the law,” said Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Who Is Affected by This Case?
The primary individual involved is Morris Brown, originally from Liberia. US authorities say:
- He arrived in the US in 2014 on a student visa.
- This visa was cancelled in 2015 when he stopped attending full-time study.
- Despite losing legal status, Brown remained in the US for more than 10 years.
- During that time, he worked as a prison guard for the Minnesota Department of Corrections (MDOC).
- He also made multiple false claims of US citizenship in official forms.
Brown’s employment with the MDOC ended in October 2025, shortly before his arrest.
Paul Schnell, Commissioner of the MDOC, said the department followed federal document checks when Brown was hired and is cooperating with federal investigators.
How Did Brown Allegedly Maintain Employment and Status?
Investigators told the DHS that they found evidence of multiple fraudulent actions:
- Claims of US citizenship on official documents.
- Marriage fraud is designed to strengthen immigration applications.
- A Green Card application in 2020 under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness programme, which did not disclose his military service or false citizenship claims.
- A 2024 application to naturalise as a US citizen based on alleged military service, which authorities say was false.
Brown also enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in 2015, even after his visa had lapsed. He was reported Absent Without Leave (AWOL) and later discharged in 2022.
Why does this matter to the UK?
While this story centres on US immigration enforcement, it highlights issues of identity verification and employment security that are increasingly relevant globally, including in the UK.
British employers and public services also carry out document checks to ensure staff are legally entitled to work.
The case underscores the importance of robust identity systems and can inform UK public debate about immigration control, border security, and labour-market integrity.
