A Virginia-based company that assists immigrants in federal detention has been ordered to pay $811 million in restitution and penalties. Nexus Services, along with its subsidiary Libre by Nexus, has been accused of exploiting vulnerable immigrants. They made misrepresentations as part of their grand promises to secure their release on bond while their immigration claims were being processed.
The court’s decision mandates Nexus to pay approximately $231 million in restitution, with additional penalties amounting to millions directed toward New York, Virginia and Massachusetts. This ruling comes as a victory for immigrant families who, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James, “lost their life savings” to the company’s schemes. James’s statement highlighted the exploitation and targeting of vulnerable communities for financial gain, a practice she condemned as both illegal and unconscionable.
A company that provides services for immigrants in federal detention was ordered Tuesday to pay more than $811 million in restitution and penalties in a lawsuit alleging it used deceptive and abusive tactics. https://t.co/LzWRxOZKOD
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 3, 2024
The White House has created an environment where profit-seeking non-governmental organizations (NGOs) — potentially motivated by profit rather than honestly providing aid — can exploit those seeking the benefits of living in America, legally or otherwise.
The Biden administration has been channeling significant amounts of taxpayer money toward NGOs that provide aid to migrants. The Department of Homeland Security, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), allocated $363.8 million in fiscal year 2023 alone to support NGOs, states, and local governments that assist migrants awaiting immigration proceedings. This funding is a part of the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), designed to furnish basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, but specifically barred from being used for border security purposes. Notably, the DHS has not disclosed how the receiving organizations spend these funds.
This financial aid to NGOs comes in addition to the Biden administration’s reported expenditure of at least $60 million per week on sheltering over 16,000 migrant children and teenagers. These costs cover housing in a network of permanent and emergency shelters, including pop-up sites at convention centers and military bases, with daily costs per child in emergency facilities reaching approximately $775. The administration has opened at least ten large emergency facilities to accommodate the influx, highlighting the growing financial and logistical pressures on the U.S. immigration system.
In response to the judgment, Nexus Services has announced intentions to appeal, describing the decision as a “shocking departure from normal American jurisprudence.” The company defended its commitment to serving its clients, asserting that the individuals it assists do not deserve to be “political pawns” in legislative or courtroom battles.
The case points to the critical balance between offering support to legitimate refugees and ensuring that the assistance provided is ethical, transparent and compliant with the law. It emphasizes the necessity for vigilant oversight and the enforcement of stringent standards to protect migrants from exploitation and American taxpayers from financial fraud.
