Staff Reports
An ICE officer has found himself in deep trouble, and not because he pushed the wrong button on his outdated government-issued laptop. Henry Yau, a supervisory officer at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been indicted for allegedly hatting a $10 million bank fraud scheme by using his position to deport a potential whistleblower. It looks like Yau forgot one crucial thing: being a public servant means serving the public, not your own buddies in the shady underbelly of fraud.
Federal prosecutors have charged Yau with marching into the world of unlawful access and selective deportation, as he reportedly snooped into at least 28 immigration files that should have remained under lock and key. For those who think government employees are immune to bending the rules, here we have a prime example of someone who made it their business to open Pandora’s box, except instead of releasing troublesome mythical creatures, he released sensitive data. On top of that, he casually shared this privileged information with a dozen of his closest cronies, proving that some folks just can’t resist the temptation of insider trading… but, you know, with immigration documents instead of stocks.
In a particularly eyebrow-raising move, Yau offered to arrest a man at the behest of a friend linked to the New York mayor’s office. The target was allegedly a disgruntled member of a fraud ring, and it seems that Yau’s loyalty to his pals outweighed his commitment to upholding the law. Deputizing himself as the old pal who “takes care” of problems for friends is not exactly what the founding fathers had in mind when they set up checks and balances. So much for the noble duties of an ICE officer—somewhere along the way, the ideals of justice got mixed up with the morals of a mobster.
Complaints arose when it was revealed that Mr. Yau had been running “background checks” for his social circle, confirming whether they had any flags that could block their re-entry into the United States after gallivanting abroad. One wonders if he included a line about making sure none of them were discussing bank fraud while sipping Mai Tais in their beach chairs. Talk about a duty to his friends! Yau apparently saw himself as the go-to guy for keeping shady characters away from the law while blatantly ignoring the very essence of his job.
DHS deportation officer arrested migrant as a favor to fraudster, say federal prosecutorshttps://t.co/m7BiDtRGai pic.twitter.com/UmgbY9fIDR
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 29, 2024
Of course, ICE has stood by reminding anyone who would listen that the vast majority of their employees are professional and work with integrity—if only they could ask Yau to return his badge before making sweeping statements. Despite his best efforts to tidy up his illicit activities, including telling friends to keep their mouths shut, the evidence against him is substantial. Between his covert operations and whispers over WeChat—yes, that’s right, using a Chinese messaging app for his clandestine operations—Yau has provided a vivid illustration of how things can go awry when one prioritizes camaraderie over country.
The whole mess illustrates an alarming trend: instead of deporting fraudsters and criminals, some in law enforcement are giving them a helping hand. With Yau’s next court hearing approaching, the question on everyone’s mind isn’t whether he will be found guilty—because the evidence is stacked against him like a Jenga tower teetering on the edge—but rather which other officials might be tempted to take the same path of partisan misconduct. It appears that the swamp isn’t just in Washington, D.C.; sometimes, it washes up in the very agencies meant to protect the American people.
