The news that well-known fraudster Anna Sorokin will participate in the old reality show "Dancing with the Stars" of ABC has caused a new round of debate in American society. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the 17th, Anna will wear a jewel-studded ankle monitor on the stage of "Dancing with the Stars". In a press release, ABC introduced Anna as "an artist, fashion icon and notorious New York socialite", and also "an anklet fashion expert". Critics said that ABC glorified Anna's past crimes, and the New York Post even called it a "new low in pop culture". Some people also questioned why Anna, as a Russian-German citizen, had the right to live and work in the United States?
According to reports, 33-year-old Anna was born in an ordinary family in Russia and immigrated to Germany as a teenager. Since 2013, she has been "walking around" under the name of Anna Delvey, swindling people in the upper class of New York, USA. In 2017, she was exposed because she could not pay for the high-end restaurant. She was subsequently detained and investigated and prosecuted. After serving nearly 4 years in prison, Anna was released in February 2021 and was asked to leave the United States, but she did not leave. Within 6 weeks of her release, she was active in the media many times, and the US Immigration Service arrested her on the grounds of overstaying her visa.
The BBC said that Anna has been trying to avoid being deported by the US government and has been engaged in legal proceedings for several years. After being detained by the Immigration Bureau for more than a year, Anna was released on parole and was required to wear a monitor on her ankle. John Sandvig, who served as the acting director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during President Obama's term, is now Anna's immigration lawyer. Sandvig said that long deportation lawsuits are not uncommon in the United States, and Anna's house arrest conditions are "very strict" and "she was banned from using social media, which we believe is unconstitutional." He added that Anna is not a flight risk and will not pose a danger to society, and she has always complied with the conditions of her parole.
According to reports, the litigation regarding Anna's deportation is still ongoing. The specifics of Anna's application for asylum are unclear, but it is believed to be related to her Russian identity. She is now allowed to use social media again, and is allowed to go to Los Angeles to film "Dancing with the Stars", and has also been issued a social security number. ICE confirmed to the BBC that Anna has been granted travel permission. ICE said: "Anna's parole conditions have been modified by the Department of Justice Immigration Judge."
During a heated discussion on The View talk show, Whoopi, a well-known Hollywood actress, said that Anna's ability to appear on the show despite facing immigration charges was a new example of the United States' "bipolar immigration system" that favors the rich or well-connected.
In response to questions, Dancing With the Stars host Green told Variety: "Anna has served her sentence and I think it's completely reasonable for her to be on the show."