Broward Woman Charged In Scheme To Submit Fraudulent Asylum Applications

MIAMI – Andrea C. Correa, 37, a resident of Sunrise, Florida, was arraigned this week on a federal indictment charging her with submission of a fraudulent asylum application, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1546(a), which penalizes the presentation of immigration documents that contain false statements.

According to the allegations proffered during an earlier hearing, Correa prepared and mailed an asylum application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that contained multiple statements of personal political persecution, despite the applicant having informed Correa that she did not in fact experience personal political persecution in her home country. Correa has prepared more than 1,000 asylum applications since 2013.

If convicted of the charged offense, Correa faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.  However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of HSI Miami, and Miami Asylum Office Director Varsenik Papazian for USCIS made the announcement.

HSI West Palm Beach and USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) Miami Asylum Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Sadlo is prosecuting this matter.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60010.

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