ICE Moves Against NY Attorney Over Fraudulent Asylum Applications

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking a civil penalty of $470,584 against an immigration attorney accused of filing fraudulent documents in connection with asylum applications.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) issued a Notice of Intent to Fine on July 28 against attorney Suraj Raj Singh, who runs a nationwide immigration practice focused largely on representing Indian nationals seeking asylum before the Immigration Court.

The agency alleges that Singh prepared and submitted 118 fraudulent documents across 54 immigration cases. ICE is seeking the maximum civil fine allowed under the statute.

DHS said many of the declarations filed in support of the asylum applications used identical or nearly identical language, narratives and supporting details describing the applicants’ alleged persecution.

In a statement, DHS General Counsel James Percival said fraudulent asylum claims undermine the U.S. immigration system, delay the removal of criminal illegal aliens and pose a threat to public safety. He said the department, under President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Mullin, would continue pursuing attorneys accused of abusing the immigration system through fraudulent filings.

The action follows a directive issued by Percival in May directing additional efforts to crack down on fraudulent asylum claims.

The first case was announced in June, when ICE issued five Notices of Intent to Fine against attorney Vinod Doddamani, seeking a total of $255,232 in civil penalties.