How Jeffrey Epstein secured visas, sham marriages for women in his trafficking network
Times of India
by TOI WORLD DESKFebruary 15, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Jeffrey Epstein exploited the U.S. immigration system to facilitate his trafficking network, using student visas, English-language schools, work permits, and sham marriages as tools to manipulate the legal status of women involved with him. Newly released DOJ files reveal a pattern of fraud, where Epstein and his associates enrolled women in language programs to secure student visas, sponsored their expenses, and arranged special work visas or marriages for permanent residency. For instance, Epstein enrolled Karyna Shuliak in Columbia University's dental school in 2011, despite her being a transfer student from Belarus without a completed degree. This allowed her to obtain a student visa, though her status later became problematic.
Epstein’s manipulation extended to using English-language schools as entry points for immigration. He paid fees for multiple women to enroll, often requiring them to demonstrate sufficient funds or secure financial sponsorship. Emails and bank records show Epstein actively facilitating these processes, even enrolling women in TOEFL preparation courses to meet visa requirements. In one case, Epstein arranged a marriage for a woman seeking permanent residency, highlighting his willingness to go to extreme lengths to bypass immigration laws.
The files also detail how Epstein recruited influential legal professionals to help navigate complex immigration procedures. For example, he enlisted lawyer Greg Craig, then a White House counsel under Barack Obama, through connections in the industry. Despite these efforts, some women faced complications, such as overstaying visas or having asylum cases rejected. Epstein’s associates often scrambled to address these issues, with one associate expressing relief when a woman didn’t board a flight, fearing potential problems.
This story underscores how Epstein leveraged systemic loopholes and legal networks to maintain control over his victims. The revelations not only expose the complicity of institutions like Columbia University but also highlight broader concerns about immigration fraud and its exploitation by traffickers. For readers interested in global justice and human rights, this story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked immigration systems and the lengths traffickers will go
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/15/2026