Immigration Laws Affect Everyone: Minor League Baseball Players Involved in Sham Marriage Scheme

Monday, March 17, 2008
Contributed by: Nick Nevarez Jr.

In 2004, a man by the name of "Wilfredo" approached Texas Rangers minor league players Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando. Wilfredo offered the ballplayers around $3000.00 each to fill out some paperwork and agree to appear to marry certain women.

Since many Domincan Republic ballplayers annually receive work visas to enter the United States, the alleged wives of the men would likely be able to enter as beneficiaries of Beltre and Ogando. Wilfredo promised that once the visas were secured, the players and the women could go their separate ways. To get the process rolling, Beltre and Ogando received enough money up front to pay for the marriage paperwork and visa applications.

In January 2005, Beltre and Ogando went to the U.S. embassy to pick up their work visas. According to the Dallas Morning News and the Texas Rangers, consulate officials soon discovered an inordinate number of young minor league ballplayers, such as Beltre and Ogando, had been married in a short period of time to women who had previously been denied visas. These actions raised red flags.

When the players returned to pick up their work visas, the consulate officials were waiting. The officials questioned the players, and the players eventually admitted to the sham marriage scheme. Consequently, their visa applications and those of their "wives" were denied. Under U.S. immigration laws, it is illegal to enter into a marriage for the sole intent of obtaining an immigration benefit.

In spring 2006, Beltre and Ogando again applied for work visas. The applications were denied. In 2007, the Texas Rangers, as their employer, applied for special visa waivers and the applications were again denied.

To date, the Rangers organization has been unsuccessful in employing Major League Baseball lobbyists and the powerful political friends of owner Tom Hicks to procure a waiver on behalf of Beltre and Ogando.

This column is published for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice and is not intended to create an attorney client relationship. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author's law firm or its individual partners.