UMVA has learned that a shocking case of deception has been uncovered involving an individual who attempted to claim asylum in the United States by falsely claiming to be gay.
Salah Dine Habib, a native of Mauritania in West Africa, entered the country illegally in 2023 and was arrested by federal authorities on May 21. His asylum claim was based on the fact that homosexuality is a crime punishable by death in Mauritania, a predominantly Islamic country where over 99% of the population follows the Sunni branch of the faith.
Habib took a bold step by securing a job as a taxpayer-funded corrections officer at a county jail in Portland, Indiana, under the supervision of Jay County Sheriff Larry Ray Newton Jr. However, his actions took a surprising turn when he married the sheriff's stepdaughter, Chelsea, in September 2025.
This unexpected move exposed Habib's asylum claim as a potential fraud, raising questions about his true intentions and identity. Habib had allegedly been working as a non-armed correctional officer at the county jail and had become a part of the sheriff's family.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Habib's deception was uncovered after his marriage to the sheriff's stepdaughter, leading to his arrest and detention. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a statement confirming that Habib entered the country illegally and was released into the US by the Biden administration.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Habib's pending asylum application is believed to be fraudulent, as he applied based on his claimed homosexuality in 2023 but married a woman in 2025. His case has sparked concerns about the vetting process for asylum seekers and the potential risks of allowing individuals with questionable backgrounds to work in law enforcement.
Habib is currently being held at the Clay County Jail detention facility in Brazil, Indiana, pending removal proceedings. The incident has raised questions about the integrity of the asylum system and the need for stricter background checks for individuals seeking to work in sensitive roles.
