Immigrants

Did 2 million voters register without a photo ID in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Texas during the first three months of 2024? No, that's not true: Election officials from these three states told Lead Stories that this figure from a social media post does not represent the number of new voters actually registered in their states without a photo ID during…

Was the captain of the Dali cargo vessel that hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 24, 2024, Ukrainian? No, that's not true: A representative of the company operating the ship confirmed to Lead Stories that all 22 crew members on board were Indian nationals. The claim about the Ukrainian captain purportedly being in charge of Dali…

Did the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps arrest Judge Sharon Coleman, a federal judge in Illinois, on March 19, 2024? No, that's not true: A spokesperson for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois told Lead Stories that "there is absolutely no truth" to this claim. The article that made this claim was published on a website…

Can immigrants and their families obtain "Direct USA Immigration through the EB3 Greencard visa" program? No, that's not true: The EB-3 Green Card visa program is tailored for skilled workers, professionals and other individuals who possess a job offer from a U.S. employer and meet specific requirements. It does not offer a direct pathway for most immigrants and their families…

Is the U.S. government providing $5,000 to each illegal migrant and to all Americans? No, neither element of the claim is true: An immigration policy think tank contacted by Lead Stories said these claims are a "false rumor" that has been circulating since December 2023. Immigrants who enter the country illegally generally are not eligible for most federal benefits or…

Does California give away interest-free home loans exclusively to "people who came into this country illegally," bypassing U.S. citizens? No, that's not true: California's AB-1840 bill never proposed such a measure. U.S. citizens who meet specific requirements are already eligible to participate in the California Dream for All program, and the 2024 bill would not change that. The claim appeared…

Has President Joe Biden "secretly flown 320,000 illegal immigrants from Latin American airports to 43 U.S. cities"? No, that's not true: The Biden administration called the claim "categorically false," noting it had publicly announced the immigration program in January 2023. The program includes individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The announcement stated that those granted permission to enter the…

Did United States Marines arrest two United States Customs and Border Protection Patrol agents for accepting bribes from immigrants for entry into the United States on February 19, 2024? No, that's not true: This claim appeared on a website that publishes fabricated content. Also, the United States Marine Corps does not have jurisdiction to arrest customs and border patrol officials.…

Did the San Francisco City Council appoint to the Board of Elections someone who a social media post called an "illegal immigrant"? No, that's not true: The person who was appointed to a commission in San Francisco is a "legal immigrant," the president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors told Lead Stories. And the person was not appointed to…

Does a video on social media show immigrants in Canada "forced" to live near busy train tracks in Toronto? No, that's not true: This video was shot in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria, and gained traction online during February 2024. A Nigerian government official responded to this video, which showed traders selling goods alongside a track as a train rushes…