ICE Seeks $470,000 from New York Lawyer for Fraudulent Asylum Claims
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is pursuing civil penalties exceeding $470,000 from a New York immigration attorney. This lawyer, Suraj Raj Singh, is accused of submitting fraudulent documents to bolster asylum requests for numerous clients. Allegedly, he filed over 100 documents with remarkably similar claims of persecution.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that Homeland Security Investigations has issued a notice of intent to fine Singh, who predominantly assists Indian nationals seeking asylum across immigration courts in the U.S.
ICE claims that Singh submitted 118 fraudulent documents across 54 immigration cases. The proposed fine is the maximum allowable amount, standing at $470,584.
DHS noted that the asylum declarations connected to Singh’s clients were “identical or nearly identical in wording and content.” They included substantially similar factual assertions and details regarding the persecution allegations.
James Percival, the DHS General Counsel, expressed that such fraudulent asylum claims pose a threat to public safety, hinder the immigration system, and delay the deportation of potentially dangerous individuals. “We will hold these attorneys accountable and put an end to their practices of fraud and abuse of our immigration system,” he emphasized.
To clarify, a Notice of Intent to Fine outlines a proposed civil enforcement action, allowing the recipient to respond before penalties are officially imposed.
Efforts Against Asylum Fraud Under Trump Administration
This action aligns with the Trump administration’s ongoing attempts to address claims of asylum fraud. In a directive issued in May, Percival instructed DHS lawyers to intensify enforcement actions against fraudulent asylum claims.
DHS remarked that Singh’s case marks the second instance where the department has sought civil penalties against immigration attorneys under 8 U.S.C. 1324c(d), which permits penalties for fraud involving immigration-related documents.
Interestingly, last month, ICE issued five notices to attorney Vinod Dodamani, seeking civil penalties totaling $255,232 for similar allegations.
FOX News Digital has reached out to Singh for his reaction.
