I just saw a post on social media today that got me a bit shaken. Someone said their friend was recently visited by ICE and taken to an immigration detention center. The reason? Apparently, he frequently sent money back home using his passport for identification.
Now, I get that ICE has limited resources and doesn’t go after every minor thing—but this? It sounds both terrifying and odd. Is it possible this person didn’t have a valid EAD but keep sending money and got found out for working illegally? Sending money home seems like a weird reason to get caught by ICE, doesn’t it?
Has anyone here heard of similar cases?
Would love to hear your thoughts—especially if you’re on F1, OPT, or Day 1 CPT. Are there safer ways to send money home?
Yeah this one sounds sus, but not totally impossible.
Sending money in itself isn’t illegal—plenty of international students send money home for legit reasons (rent, emergencies, etc.). But if the person didn’t have work authorization (like no OPT or CPT) and was sending large, regular transfers? That could raise red flags. It’s not the transfer that gets you—it’s what it suggests you’re doing (aka working under the table).
Pro tip:
If you’re on F1 or Day 1 CPT, always make sure your job is properly authorized through your school.
And yes—avoid using just your passport as ID at money transfer places if you can. Use something tied to your legal U.S. status (like an SSN if you have one, or your visa docs).
It’s a scary story, but probably more to it than just “sent money = ICE raid.”
Anyone else hear similar stories or have tips for safer remittance methods?
I saw that post too—it’s definitely unsettling, but it’s unlikely that someone would be detained by ICE just for sending money home. More often, cases like this involve deeper issues, like working without authorization while on an F-1 visa or having an expired I-20. Sending money itself isn’t illegal, but if the funds come from unauthorized employment, that’s when problems can arise. If you’re on CPT or OPT with proper documentation, you’re generally fine, but it’s always smart to keep records of your job and be mindful of how much and how often you’re wiring money home.
