Fingerprints Don’t Lie: Pakistani Arrested 27 Years After Removal Order

(NEW ORLEANS) A Pakistani national who tried to obtain a Green Card under a new identity was arrested at the USCIS field office in New Orleans after his fingerprints matched records from a prior case in which he was ordered removed in 1998.

USCIS publicly disclosed the arrest on August 20, 2025, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “Fingerprints don’t lie. An alien from Pakistan was ordered removed in 1998. 27 years later he applied for a Green Card under a new identity. Our security checks uncovered the truth. He was arrested by @ICEgov at our New Orleans office.” The man is now in ICE custody, and officials say the long‑standing removal order can be enforced because his true identity is confirmed.

How a routine biometrics appointment turned into an arrest

The case, which unfolded inside the New Orleans office where applicants usually attend biometrics appointments, highlights how a single scan of fingerprints can decide a person’s future.

• USCIS takes fingerprints and other biometrics from nearly everyone who seeks immigration benefits.
• Those prints are checked against Department of Homeland Security and FBI databases.
• In this case, the prints linked the applicant to the 27‑year‑old removal order, turning a standard appointment into a handoff to ICE.

Officials said they acted under policy that requires mandatory biometric checks for all Green Card and other immigration applications. USCIS security systems run the prints, compare them to historical records, and flag prior immigration violations, criminal history, and identity issues.

“Fingerprints don’t lie.”
The agency’s blunt message reflects how identity fraud, even decades old, is likely to surface during today’s checks.

The mechanics: what happened at the New Orleans office

USCIS said the arrest occurred after the person appeared for biometrics tied to his Green Card application.

1. Staff took his fingerprints and submitted them through standard databases.
2. The prints matched a 1998 removal order.
3. ICE officers were notified and arrived at the New Orleans office to take him into custody.
4. With identity confirmed, the prior removal order became enforceable and the individual now faces enforcement with limited options to challenge it.

This sequence illustrates how a routine biometrics visit can rapidly shift to enforcement action when historical records are found.

National vetting trends and technological context

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, federal agencies have invested heavily in data matching and continuous vetting tools since 2020.

• As of 2025, authorities say they continuously vet all 55 million U.S. visa holders, scanning for fraud and national security risks across biometric, criminal, and social media sources.
• These tools reach deep into old case files and can bring decades‑old orders back into effect.

While most people never hear about these checks, the New Orleans arrest shows how quickly results can trigger action—especially when a prior removal order exists.

Policy developments shaping enforcement

Several 2025 policy actions have tightened enforcement:

• On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which expands immigration detention, increases enforcement funding, and limits some due process protections for people with removal orders.
• An ICE memo issued in July 2025 permits, in urgent cases, deportation to “alternative” countries (not only the country of origin), sometimes with as little as six hours’ notice.
• A Mandatory Registration Rule introduced in April 2025 requires certain immigrants to register with the government, helping identify undocumented people and those with prior removal orders.

Combined with universal biometrics and continuous vetting, these measures give authorities more tools to rapidly carry out old orders when identity matches are found.

Policy context and enforcement trend

• Expanded biometric checks: All applicants for immigration benefits now submit fingerprints and other biometrics. These checks run against DHS and FBI systems and can surface prior removal orders, criminal records, and identity conflicts.
• Aggressive enforcement: The 2025 enforcement priorities target people with prior orders, giving special attention to identity fraud. Local office matches can move cases quickly to ICE custody.
• Continuous vetting: Ongoing vetting covers tens of millions of visa holders, scanning for fraud and threats, including through social media reviews.

Legal scholars warn this combination—universal biometrics, swift detention, and narrower due process—raises legal and human rights concerns. Some policies face court challenges, but for now people with prior removal orders remain at high risk if they apply for immigration benefits under a new identity.

Impact on applicants, families, employers, and communities

For people with complicated histories, the New Orleans arrest carries a clear message: all Green Card applicants must provide fingerprints, and those prints can reveal prior orders or records, even from decades ago.

Practical implications:

• Filing a new application under a different name is likely to trigger detection if you were previously removed or ordered removed.
• If you suspect identity theft, seek legal help immediately—resolving identity theft in immigration files can be complex and time‑sensitive.
• Narrower due process protections mean options to fight removal after a biometric match may be limited and fast‑moving.

Employers and schools should note that the same tightening web of data—fingerprints and continuous vetting—feeds other background and eligibility checks. People with past orders are more likely to be identified when interacting with parts of the immigration system.

Advocates worry about wrongful detention from mistakes in old files or misattributed prints. While fingerprint systems are generally accurate, no database is perfect. Quick legal review in disputed cases is important. Families are urged to keep copies of immigration records and to seek help immediately if a member is detained after a biometrics appointment.

What applicants should do

• Respond to biometrics notices on time.
• Bring the appointment letter and valid ID to biometrics appointments.
• Understand that fingerprints will be used for identity and background checks.
• If you have a prior removal order or complicated immigration history, consult a licensed attorney before filing.

For authoritative details on what to expect at a biometrics appointment, see USCIS’s official guidance: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/preparing-for-your-biometric-services-appointment.

The five steps observed in the New Orleans case

1. Application submitted under a new identity.
2. Biometrics appointment scheduled and completed.
3. Fingerprints matched against DHS and FBI databases, revealing the 1998 order.
4. USCIS notified ICE; ICE agents arrested the applicant at the field office.
5. With identity confirmed, the prior removal order became enforceable and ICE proceeded.

Community concerns and official response

The New Orleans field office serves many applicants in the Gulf Coast region—families applying for adjustment of status, employment‑based applicants, and long‑time residents seeking permanent residence. Biometrics visits are normally short and routine—until a system match appears.

• Advocates say the speed of enforcement can catch families off guard; a single appointment may be the point where old orders surface and lead to immediate detention.
• Government officials argue the rules are public and that identity fraud, regardless of its age, undermines trust in the system.

Authorities in New Orleans say the public can report suspected immigration fraud to ICE at 866‑DHS‑2‑ICE (866‑347‑2423). USCIS continues to process routine biometrics every day at the local office—most lead to no issues and no arrests. Still, as the agency emphasized, “fingerprints don’t lie,” and one match can turn a quiet waiting room into the start of a removal.

Final facts and outlook

Officials have not released the man’s name, citing privacy laws. They confirmed only the timeline:

• 1998 removal order
• Green Card application under a new identity in 2025
• Biometric match inside the New Orleans office that led to ICE custody

With the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and the July 2025 ICE memo in effect, the pathway ahead for the individual appears narrow. The New Orleans case demonstrates that universal biometrics, continuous vetting, and stricter enforcement are likely to produce more identity‑based arrests at USCIS sites nationwide. People with prior orders who hope fingerprints won’t surface old records are likely to be disappointed—in 2025, the system is designed to find those records and act on them.