JOIN USFederal prosecutors told a Chicago court yesterday that Rana communicated with a Lashkar-e-Taiba leader in this regard and provided him the loopholes in the US immigration system on how to bring people into the country.
Rana, who was arrested last month on charges of plotting attacks in India and Denmark, in association with his friend David Coleman Headley and LeT, sought bail from the court by providing a security of nearly USD one million.
The proceedings of the court on his bail application will continue till November 10.
Referring to the several email and tapped telephone conversations, federal authorities said Rana has not only the knowledge and ability to engage in immigration fraud, but also has the willingness to do so.
As recently as September four, the LeT leader -– whose name has not been identified, and Rana discussed over phone the "business" loophole in obtaining immigration status in the US.
After the LeT leader noted that "this person's degree was in "textiles" and thus his work did not fall into one of the 38 categories of "occupations", Rana, according to federal prosecutors stated as follows: "But, it... it is not necessary that it should fall in there... Make him a cook...
"Tell him that he has a diploma for a two-year,four-year, it can even be from some food stand -– which, but it must confirm that 'yes, I'm a cook. And he should learn something. The whole purpose is immigration, right."
The same day, Rana had a telephonic conversation with a third party regarding the employment history of an individual seeking immigration status, federal authorities said in their additional submission made before the Chicago court.
"After the third party explained that this individual's employment history had overlapping information, Rana noted that this would be a problem.
"The third party then suggested that, to address that issue, he could back-date a letter from an employer to a date in 1983," the submission said.
"Careful to avoid detection, Rana then noted that he would have to use a typewriter, reminding the third party that there were no laser printers in 1983.
"Further, after this third party also informed Rana that the employer would be a fictitious business, Rana advised him to use a letter from a company that was real, even if it did not exist anymore.
"Rana further advised that, in preparing this fictitious letter, he should add that the applicant had left that employment on his own accord," federal prosecutors said.
US attorney said Rana is fluent in the documents necessary for immigration and border crossing through his operation of First World Immigration.
Based on a review of intercepted communications, including emails, Rana does not shy from using that knowledge to assist others in immigration fraud, the prosecutor said.
"For example, in late 2008, the defendant and the individual identified in the complaint affidavit as Individual B, who is affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, had discussed a 'loophole' to get individuals into the US under false pretences," the attorney said.
"On or about December 3, 2008, Individual B sent Rana an email, asking 'if anybody only wants to land there and use student visas as toll, what u say about that.'
"Rana responded the same day, suggesting to Individual B a different 'loophole'," the attorney said.
"Before answering Individual B's question, however, Rana first instructed: "[d]elete this email after reading.
"Go and delete the mail from the 'Sent Mail' folders.
"Rana then continued: If everyone coming to US does not go to school, obviously our business will be looked at closely leading to arrests, etc.," the prosecutor quoted Rana as saying in his email.
"These days school reports to immigration on a hot line that students are missing and immigration at 5 am is at their place of residence or work where ever they can pick them up.
"Then they offer them a deal and ask them to tell how they came. How they paid, what amount whom, who did what," Rana said, according to the additional document submitted by the federal prosecutors before the court.
"Whenever you find easy way to come to US immediately think there is a catch to it. Only one loophole is business which they believe is OK and intelligence can play a role," Rana said in his email, according to the court papers.