U.S. federal authorities have arrested a Liberian national accused of sustaining more than a decade of immigration violations, identity fraud, and military desertion while unlawfully living and working in the United States.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), officers from its St. Paul field office apprehended Morris Brown on January 15, 2026. Brown was reportedly employed as a Minnesota corrections officer after allegedly falsifying records to claim U.S. citizenship.
ICE officials say Brown entered the United States in 2014 on a student visa but failed to enroll in school as required. Instead, investigators allege he fraudulently enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, despite lacking lawful immigration status. Authorities further state that Brown later deserted the Guard.
A timeline released by ICE outlines a pattern of repeated misrepresentation:
2015: Brown’s student visa was revoked. 2020: His application for lawful permanent residency (green card) was denied after officials determined he failed to disclose his prior military service and had made false claims of U.S. citizenship. 2022: The Pennsylvania National Guard reportedly identified the fraudulent enlistment, leading to Brown’s discharge. 2024: Brown applied for U.S. naturalization, again allegedly omitting information related to his unlawful military service.
Despite these developments, ICE says Brown secured employment within the Minnesota Department of Corrections, raising serious concerns about background screening and identity verification processes.
ICE officials confirmed that Brown now faces removal proceedings and could also be subject to criminal prosecution for immigration fraud, false claims of citizenship, and related offenses.
The agency emphasized that the case underscores its ongoing efforts to identify individuals who exploit federal and state systems through deception, particularly when such actions intersect with public safety and national security institutions.
