A justice of the peace in Connecticut, Wanda Geter-Pataky, is accused of conducting marriages under suspicious circumstances, allegedly to aid immigrants in obtaining legal status in a fraudulent manner according to Breitbart.
In New Haven City Hall, Justice of the Peace Wanda Geter-Pataky has come under scrutiny for officiating marriages that are being questioned for their legitimacy.
Allegations suggest these ceremonies were part of an operation to hasten the acquisition of legal status for immigrants during a politically tense period preceding the presidential transition from Joe Biden to Donald Trump.
These controversial unions predominantly connected migrants with U.S. citizens residing outside of Connecticut from states such as Texas, New York, and Virginia. Reports from WVIT-TV highlighted that within just one month, between September 15 and October 15, Geter-Pataky performed marriages in 114 cases.
The frequency of these marriages raises concerns, as Geter-Pataky is said to have conducted over 100 such ceremonies each month under the Biden administration.
Her actions have not only drawn media attention but have also led to political repercussions. State Senator Stephen Harding has called on the attorney general's office to conduct a thorough investigation into these matters to ascertain if any illegal activities have occurred.
Despite these calls, Connecticut’s Attorney General, William Tong, clarified that such investigations primarily fall under federal jurisdiction. This response points to the complex interplay between state and federal responsibilities concerning immigration and marriage laws.
History seems to echo Geter-Pataky, who was previously dismissed from a governmental role due to dubious involvement in a Bridgeport mayoral election in 2023. Currently, she faces serious charges including tampering with a witness and other voting-related offenses, with a jury trial looming on the horizon.
As details emerge, it becomes apparent that the integrity of the marriage process in New Haven has been compromised not only by Geter-Pataky’s alleged indiscretions but also by a broader network involving so-called marriage brokers.
These brokers reportedly facilitate unions between Indian men and economically disadvantaged American women, who often give vague and inconsistent details about their relationships.
In a city-led response to the burgeoning scandal, measures such as waiting periods and scheduled marriage times are being introduced to mitigate the frequency of these questionable marriages. New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond voiced her concern, emphasizing the city's welcoming stance yet firm opposition to any fraudulent activities that may tarnish its integrity.
Director Bond, along with other city officials, stresses that while they aim to maintain a hospitable environment, they are not equipped to police the validity of such intimate bonds.
This stance was echoed by Democrat Mayor Justin Elicker, who stated, "We’re not the love police, we’re not trying to determine if they’re actually in love if it’s a legitimate marriage, or if there’s something else going on."
The situation in New Haven is part of a larger pattern observed across Connecticut, where city officials are overwhelmed by marriage applications and the paperwork they entail.
This has sparked a wider debate on the role of local governments in monitoring marriages that may be orchestrated more for legal conveniences than genuine personal commitment.
New Haven immigration attorney Damjan Denoble shed light on typical cases, describing interactions with spouses who often employed vague backstories and dubious financial arrangements to support their applications.
“The U.S. citizen spouse was said to be in a part-time or unskilled job and allegedly ineligible to sponsor the intending immigrant," Denoble noted, underscoring the orchestrated nature of many such marriages.