Federal prosecutors have announced they have uncovered an elaborate alien smuggling ring that is allegedly responsible for bringing more than 500 nurses illegally into the country. Federal officials claim the nurses, all from the Philippines and South Korea, are at the center of a new type of alien smuggling ring. Previously uncovered smuggling rings would typically involve crossing the US-Mexican border in cars, vans and trucks. The nurse smuggling ring, however, used fraudulently obtained visas to bring the nurses in on international airlines. The nurse investigation is the largest visa fraud investigation in history.

The US Attorney's office in Dallas, Texas states that the nurses worked in at least 35 states and cost the country as much as $35 million by taking less than the prevailing wage for the area.

Five American citizens in New Jersey, Texas and California have already pleaded guilty. The five admitted to luring the nurses by offering specific jobs in America. Dozens of others are apparently being investigated as well. The nurses paid the smugglers between $1,500 and $7,500 to get the visas fraudulently. Once in the US, the nurses were often sent to jobs other than the jobs promised initially.

None of the nurses has been detained as of yet and the government warns that the nurses are potentially subject to being charged with fraud and being deported.

Visa fraud is punishable by up to ten years imprisonment and fines of $250,000.