Attorney Vinod Doddamani Faces $255K Fine In US Asylum Fraud Case

India-West News Desk

FLORIDA- A US immigration attorney is facing proposed federal penalties of more than $255,000 after authorities accused him of filing fraudulent asylum-related documents on behalf of Indian nationals.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has issued five notices of intent to fine attorney Vinod Doddamani in connection with 32 immigration cases involving 64 allegedly fraudulent documents. According to DHS, several asylum applications submitted by Doddamani contained identical or nearly identical factual accounts and supporting details.

Announcing the action on X, DHS said, “The days of attorneys abusing and defrauding our immigration system are OVER.” The department said this is the first time it has sought financial penalties against an attorney accused of filing fraudulent asylum claims.

The action follows a directive issued last month by the department’s top lawyer instructing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to pursue attorneys suspected of filing false asylum applications in immigration courts.

DHS General Counsel James Percival said fraudulent asylum claims burden the immigration system and delay the removal of individuals facing deportation.

“By holding Doddamani accountable, we are sending a message to other immigration attorneys who engage in fraud across the country: your days of abusing and defrauding our immigration system are over,” Percival said.

Doddamani, who was born in India and later became a German citizen, has been based in South Florida since 2009. His professional profile says he studied at Purdue University and Chapman University, is admitted to practice law in Illinois and the District of Columbia, and speaks 10 languages.