Federal authorities arrested a foreign national who claimed asylum based on homosexuality, then married his boss’s stepdaughter while working as a corrections officer in Indiana, exposing what officials call a fraudulent application designed to exploit America’s immigration system.
The Fraud Unravels at Indiana County Jail
Salah Dine Habib, a native of Mauritania in West Africa, entered the United States illegally near Lukeville, Arizona in March 2023. Border officials under the previous administration released him into the country despite his unlawful entry. Habib subsequently filed for asylum, claiming persecution for homosexuality in his home country, where such conduct carries the death penalty under Islamic law that governs over 99 percent of the population.
This is one for the history books.
Salah Dine Habib is an Arab man from Mauritania. He claimed asylum at the Arizona border in 2023, claiming to be gay.
After gaining entry, Habib secured taxpayer-funded employment as a corrections officer at the Jay County Jail in Portland, Indiana. Sheriff Larry Ray Newton Jr. confirmed Habib worked as a non-armed correctional officer at the facility. The situation took an unexpected turn in September 2025 when Habib married Chelsea Newton, the sheriff’s stepdaughter. Sheriff Newton acknowledged the family connection but stated Habib was employed before the marriage occurred.
Federal Response and Detention
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Habib on May 21. The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement confirming the arrest and outlining the case against him. Officials noted the clear contradiction between his 2023 asylum application based on claimed homosexuality and his 2025 marriage to a woman, calling the discrepancy evidence of fraud.
The agency emphasized that under current leadership, ICE is prioritizing removal of illegal aliens from American communities, particularly those holding law enforcement positions. Habib remains detained at the Clay County Jail facility in Brazil, Indiana, awaiting removal proceedings. His asylum application now faces certain denial based on the fraudulent claims.
What This Means for Border Security
This case highlights ongoing concerns about asylum fraud and vetting procedures for those entering the country illegally. The fact that Habib obtained a law enforcement position despite his unlawful entry and pending asylum case raises questions about background check protocols. Immigration officials point to this arrest as part of broader enforcement efforts to identify and remove individuals who exploited previous border policies through false asylum claims. The marriage to a law enforcement official’s family member while maintaining fraudulent asylum status represents what authorities describe as brazen disregard for immigration law.