TO - Father of Miss Oregon investigated on suspicion of visa fraud

The Oregonian

Father of Miss Oregon investigated on suspicion of visa fraud


by Michelle Roberts, The Oregonian

Friday March 13, 2009, 5:30 AM

U.S. immigration officials are investigating the father of the reigning Miss Oregon on suspicion of visa fraud after an international war crimes tribunal reported that he had served in a military unit that slaughtered unarmed Muslims in Bosnia in 1995.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Federal prosecutors say that Serbian national Milenko Krstic, 52, father of Miss Oregon Danijela Krstic, 24, lied in 1998 when he was applying for refugee status, stating under oath that he had never served in the military.

Six years after Krstic settled in Beaverton in 1999 with his wife and two daughters, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia reported to U.S. immigration authorities that Krstic had, in fact, served in the Army of Republika Srpska.

Krstic's militia, also known as the Bosnian Serb Army, has been designated by the International Court of Justice in The Hague as having participated in war crimes, genocide and ethnic cleansing during the Bosnian civil war in the early 1990s."

"A three-judge panel rejected Krstic's argument that he couldn't be prosecuted for possessing an authentic immigration document, or "green card," even though it had been obtained by means of a false statement."

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"In 1998, three years after leaving the military, Krstic and his family emigrated to the United States. As part of a refugee application, he filled out an I-590 form, which requires, among other things, applicants to disclose foreign military service.

Krstic contends that "someone wrote 'not served' in English" on the form. Federal officials, however, say that Krstic denied having served in the military "during a sworn, personal interview administered in Belgrade."

Krstic and his family were granted refugee status and admitted to the United States. They settled in the Portland area.

In 1999, the family applied to become lawful permanent residents. As part of the application, Krstic filled out an I-485 form, which also asks applicants to report any prior foreign military service. Krstic again did not disclose his service. He was issued an alien registration receipt card, also called a green card.

In 2005, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia reported Krstic's military service to U.S. immigration authorities. Federal agents entered Krstic's home and interviewed him. He admitted to serving in the military but denied committing war crimes."