Feds: Immigration Officer Named Christmas Sought Bribes

The U.S. Courthouse in Central Islip

It looks like Mr. Christmas will be spending the holiday defending his name.

Melford Christmas, a 41-year-old federal immigration officer, was arrested at his Queens home and charged with soliciting bribes from those seeking to become legal permanent residents, commonly referred to as green card holders, at his Garden City office, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Christmas, an officer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau (CISB), interviewed applicants and conducted examinations concerning their proficiency in the English language and American civics and history – a requirement for U.S. citizenship. But four times between April 2007 and November 2009, he demanded bribes from applicants to approve their citizenship applications, according to prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors said at least three of them paid sums ranging from $500 to $1,000, and Christmas approved their applications. A fourth applicant didn’t pay, and contacted the authorities.

“We are committed to vigorously investigating allegations of official corruption by those responsible for administering the immigration and naturalization process,” U.S. Attorney Benton J. Campbell, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which covers Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens.

“It’s obviously something we’re not happy to hear,” said Katie Tichacek, spokesperson for the CISB’s New York office. “This is rare for us.”

She added that it is “too early to tell” how the accusations would effect the immigration status of those who had their green cards granted or denied by Christmas.

Christmas will had an initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge A. Kathleen Tomlinson at the U.S. Courthouse in Central Islip, but did not enter a plea. His bail was sset at $100,000. A public defender declined to comment.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. He is due back in court on Feb. 8.

With Associated Press