Miami Man Accused of Fraudulent Immigration Certification Scheme
A Miami resident has been charged with fraud and identity theft for allegedly impersonating a deceased doctor to help naturalization applicants bypass U.S. citizenship test requirements. The case is part of a larger national healthcare fraud takedown.
A Miami man faces federal charges for his alleged role in a scheme to defraud the U.S. immigration system by falsely certifying naturalization applicants as disabled. Eduardo Javier Ibarra Arrowsmith, 61, a Cuban national with a prior felony conviction, is accused of fraudulently completing medical forms to exempt applicants from English and civics tests required for citizenship. ## Alleged Impersonation and Fraudulent Certifications According to prosecutors, Ibarra posed as a licensed neurologist, using the credentials of a deceased Miami-Dade doctor. He allegedly signed at least 34 Forms N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, under the stolen identity. This deception allowed 14 applicants to obtain U.S. citizenship without meeting standard testing requirements. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) referred the case to Homeland Security Investigations after identifying Ibarra’s fraudulent activities. ## Broader Healthcare Fraud Investigation The charges against Ibarra are part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a sweeping operation targeting widespread fraud in federal healthcare programs. The initiative has led to charges against 455 defendants accused of defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurers of over $6.5 billion. The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Unit, and USCIS. ## Legal and Enforcement Response Ibarra is charged with fraud and misuse of immigration documents, as well as aggravated identity theft. The investigation was conducted by the Florida Strike Force, a collaboration of federal and state law enforcement agencies. USCIS encourages the public to report suspected immigration fraud through its online tip form. For more details on USCIS programs, visit the agency’s official website or follow its social media channels.
