SouthernWorldwide.com – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has introduced a groundbreaking policy that marks a new offensive in the fight against fraud, specifically targeting attorneys who file fraudulent asylum claims on behalf of immigrants.
James Percival, the general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced on X (formerly Twitter) that this decisive action serves as a clear warning to those involved in fraudulent activities.
“Last month, we put the open borders industrial complex on notice — fraudulent asylum claims would result in fines against attorneys,” Percival stated.
He further elaborated that on Tuesday, the DHS imposed a fine exceeding $255,000 on an attorney. This penalty was levied for submitting multiple fraudulent asylum claims for Indian immigrants seeking entry into the U.S.
ICE reinforced this stance, declaring on X that “the days of attorneys abusing and defrauding our immigration system are OVER.”
The DHS detailed that the attorney in question, Doddamani, managed a nationwide practice. This practice involved filing asylum applications primarily for Indian immigrants in immigration courts. To substantiate these claims, Doddamani reportedly submitted declarations that were either identical or strikingly similar in their wording and content.
These declarations, according to the agency, presented the same or very similar factual accounts and supporting details regarding alleged persecution in the immigrants’ home countries.
The implementation of these fines aligns with a directive issued by Percival last month. This directive specifically authorized ICE attorneys to pursue enforcement actions against immigration attorneys found to be filing false asylum claims in court.
At the time of the directive, Percival explained the rationale behind it. He noted that while asylum claims are intended for specific and limited circumstances, it had become a common practice for immigration attorneys representing undocumented individuals to assert that nearly every one of their clients faced persecution or torture in their home countries.
“Now, thanks to this directive, ICE attorneys have greater authority to enforce the law and stop the abuse of our asylum system by illegal aliens and attorneys,” Percival added.
In a statement released by the DHS, Percival emphasized the broader implications of fraudulent asylum claims. He argued that these claims jeopardize American safety by overwhelming an already strained immigration system and consequently delaying the deportation of dangerous criminal aliens.
“For too long,” Percival continued, “immigration attorneys have not been held to the same ethical standard as other attorneys.”
Percival underscored that this situation would no longer be tolerated under the current administration. He specifically mentioned the case of attorney Vinod Doddamani, for whom ICE is seeking a fine of over $250,000.
“By holding him 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 concluded.
