Former Child Soldier General Lied to Get Green Card
Laye Sekou Camara, originally from Liberia, has pleaded guilty to green card fraud and now faces a prison sentence and deportation.
Camara committed fraud on his immigration application by making a false statement regarding his involvement in the Liberian civil war, say prosecutors. He was arrested in 2022 while trying to board an international flight.
Camara faces up to 40 years in prison.
Fought Against Liberian Government Led by Charles Taylor
Camara served as a rebel general between 1999 and 2003, and he fought against the government led by Charles Taylor, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Muck.
Camara, known by his nicknames K-1 and Dragon Master, obtained Lawful Permanent Resident status and a green card by falsely stating that he never participated in extrajudicial killings or acts of violence and that he was never involved with a paramilitary united, rebel group or guerilla group, and lastly that he never recruited children as soldiers.
And while he pleaded guilty on the counts of lying on his immigration form, there are some people from his native country who claim that he should be put to trial for reasons that are way worse – war crimes.
Camara, who was a child soldier himself after his father was killed in Liberia, was one of the leaders of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, known by the acronym LURD, who tried to gain control of the Freeport of Monrovia, the biggest port in the African country.
Alleged War Crimes
Liberians claim that Camara was responsible for many crimes. The Philadelphia Inquirer shared insight into some of the alleged atrocities.
One man said that Camara lashed him 25 times, then stabbed him in the knee after he was caught trying to leave the port with some rice. On another occasion, Camara reportedly shot another LURD member who was accused of stealing headphones and then made the crowd keep his body in sight for three days.
Another man said he saw Camara and his entourage arrive at a scene where people were searching for food. He accused them of looting and started to fire at them, killing many in the process, then ordering his men to put the dead bodies in a shipping container.
In 2002, Lofa villagers were captured by Camara’s forces, and during the process, Camara cut off the ear of one of the prisoners, according to Front Page Africa.
“My uncle was tied up, and Camara personally cut off his ear. Anyone who refused to comply with Camara’s orders was killed,” said a witness to Camara’s alleged crimes.
How to Report Green Card Fraud
You can report green card fraud by contacting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
You can also leave an online tip about immigration and benefits fraud here.
Another option is to contact the local police station or FBI office and follow their instructions.
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