Federal authorities declined to bring criminal charges against Olivet University, ending a federal investigation into alleged human labor-trafficking and visa-fraud connected to the Christian college in California.
Olivet University via Google Maps photos / Insert of David Jang
In a joint filing on September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) informed the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that “no charges are going to be filed against Olivet University or anyone else affiliated with Olivet University that arise out of or are related to Plaintiffs’ claims.” The decision comes after years of scrutiny from federal and state agencies into Olivet’s labor and visa practices.
The allegations stemmed from a civil lawsuit brought by four international students who claimed they had been lured to Olivet, located in Anza, California, under the promise of scholarships. The students then allege they were forced to perform uncompensated manual labor as a condition of their attendance.
Pursuant to California Civil Code § 52.5 and 18 U.S.C. § 1595, the criminal‐investigation stay that paused the civil action for over a year is set to be lifted. Olivet University has also filed a countersuit against the students.
Olivet University, founded in 2000 by David Jang, a controversial South Korean pastor, has long denied wrongdoing, characterizing the claims as part of a “T-visa” scheme, a tactic in which non-citizens allege human trafficking in order to secure permanent visa status. In its own statement, the university said the declination “affirms what we have consistently maintained: the accusations against our institution were false and unfounded.”
Referring to Newsweek’s reporting of the Fed’s decision not to file charges, Olivet published this clarification: “Some reports incorrectly speculate that only some charges against Olivet University were declined to be filed. We would like to clarify that the HSI and USAO declined to file ‘any’ charges against Olivet University or any individuals affiliated with the University.”
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This feds’ decision comes amidst broader regulatory pressures on the institution. As reported in MinistryWatch, Olivet’s state approval to operate was previously revoked by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), citing deficiencies in faculty and instruction.
The university is appealing that decision, according to Olivet President Jonathan Park. “The BPPE’s investigation stemmed from Newsweek’s false human trafficking allegations, not from any student or consumer complaints,” Park said. “While the appeal is in process, Olivet continues to operate under a religious exemption that has been officially verified by BPPE.”
The civil case brought by the students will proceed on the standard “preponderance of the evidence” rather than “beyond a reasonable doubt,” a lower standard than what is required in criminal court. As one plaintiff’s attorney noted, the criminal decision “simply allows us to move forward and there should be no other stalls or delays in this case.”
This story has been updated to include clarification from Olivet University.
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