ICE arrests Ghanaian-born US university manager over marriage fraud allegations

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained Ghanaian-born Missouri State University grants accounting manager Paul Essel without bond over alleged immigration violations linked to marriage fraud.

According to Peoples Gazette, Essel was arrested on October 7, prompting the university to place him on paid administrative leave.

Court documents indicate that Essel entered the United States on a student visa in 2003 before obtaining conditional permanent residency.

His citizenship application was denied in 2012 after immigration authorities alleged he misrepresented his marital relationship.

An immigration judge subsequently ordered his deportation.

Essel remarried in 2016, and immigration authorities approved a petition filed by his second wife in 2018.

However, subsequent attempts to reopen his immigration proceedings were rejected for missing filing deadlines.

Missouri State University described Essel as a longstanding employee in good standing.

The institution maintained that it complied with federal employment requirements and would continue evaluating the situation while awaiting official communication from immigration authorities.