The Marriage Fraud Act of 1986

The Marriage Fraud Act of 1986 is a U.S. law that targets marriage arrangements made mainly to help non-citizens gain immigration benefits unlawfully. It makes it a federal crime to knowingly enter into a marriage for the purpose of evading immigration laws. The law imposes penalties such as fines and imprisonment for those involved in such fraudulent marriages. Its goal is to prevent people from abusing the marriage-based immigration system while ensuring that legitimate marriages are respected.