A high school teacher admitted she used Utah's online marriage laws to give a foreign man a path to US citizenship.
What Happened
Laura Pinho is a 51-year-old dance teacher at Canoga Park Senior High School. During a live video call in June, she proudly told a political group that she married a man named Salem S.E. Abu Amra. She said she did it because she wanted to use her power as an American citizen to "equalize the playing field."
The couple got married on April 5 using an online service in Utah. This service lets people marry via Zoom even if they are in different countries. Pinho had never met her new husband in person, and her former partner of many years, who still lives with her, had no idea she got married.
Federal authorities say marrying someone just to get them a green card is a major crime. Pinho makes $179,103 a year in pay and benefits from taxpayers. Now, legal experts say her public confession could land her in prison for up to five years.
What the evidence shows
- April 5: The date Pinho and Abu Amra married online through a county clerk in Utah.
- $179,103: The amount of taxpayer money Pinho made in pay and benefits as of 2024.
- 5 years: The maximum prison sentence for federal marriage fraud.
- $250,000: The maximum fine for marrying someone just to secure a green card.
- 0: The number of times Pinho and her new husband appear to have met in person before marrying.
The Bigger Question
This story makes us look at how easy it is to bypass federal laws using state loopholes. Utah allows anyone in the world to get married online with very few checks. Should local governments make it this easy to sign legal documents that impact national immigration?
We also have to ask what role teachers should play in our schools. Pinho has used her classroom to push her personal views and has guided her students to join protests. When a teacher's personal actions cross into federal crimes, where do we draw the line for our schools?
The Other Side
Pinho did not answer calls for comment, but she explained her actions during her online speech. She believes she is using her privilege as an American to help someone in a war zone who has no other options.
This defense is weak under the law. US immigration courts do not accept political beliefs as an excuse for marriage fraud, and her own public video confession acts as strong evidence against her.
What Happens Now
If federal prosecutors take action, Pinho could lose her teaching job and face criminal charges. Parents at her high school are already calling for her to be removed from the classroom. For regular people, this case might lead to tighter rules for online marriages across the country.
What We Still Don't Know
- Has the federal government started a formal criminal case into Pinho's marriage?
- Is the husband from Gaza currently in the United States, or is he still overseas?
- Will the Los Angeles Unified School District suspend Pinho while they look into her actions?