Woman stranded in Africa in pursuit of US dream returned to Uzbekistan

A woman who was stranded in Africa and Latin America with her child while attempting to reach the United States has been returned to Uzbekistan. This was reported by the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul.  

It was noted that recently, cases of fraud involving individuals and legal entities in Turkey have increased. These fraudsters promise to facilitate Uzbek citizens’ permanent residence in the US in exchange for large sums of money, as well as assist in obtaining visas to European countries.  

Citizens who trust these individuals often face serious difficulties. Following their instructions, they travel to various foreign countries—mainly in Asia and Africa—where they find themselves stranded.  

On February 26, with the assistance of the Consulate General, a woman who had fallen victim to such fraud while trying to reach the US and was left in dire circumstances with her child in African and Latin American countries was successfully repatriated to Uzbekistan.  

According to the Consulate General, illegal migration can lead to:  

- Money laundering by fraudsters
- Illegal seizure of documents
- Undocumented status abroad and legal problems
- Criminal prosecution
- Deportation or long-term bans

It should be recalled that earlier, the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul had warned Uzbek citizens about criminal groups attempting to use them as intermediaries. These groups promise large cash rewards to smuggle illegal immigrants to the European Union, mainly to Greece, by sea.