The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is taking a significant legal step by pursuing over $470,000 in fines against a New York immigration attorney. The attorney, Suraj Raj Singh, is accused of submitting fraudulent documents in asylum cases.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Singh represented mainly Indian nationals seeking asylum. ICE alleges he filed 118 false documents across 54 cases. DHS claims these documents contained nearly identical descriptions of persecution, suggesting they were fabricated.

James Percival, General Counsel for DHS, expressed concerns. He stated, “Fraudulent asylum claims threaten the safety of the American people, undermine our immigration system, and delay the removal of dangerous criminal illegal aliens.” ICE is seeking the maximum allowable fine of $470,584 from Singh.

DHS has issued a notice of intent to fine, which allows Singh to respond before any penalties are finalized.

This action forms part of ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to address asylum fraud. In a related move, DHS previously fined other attorneys for similar offenses. The Singh case represents the second time DHS has sought civil penalties against an immigration attorney for document fraud under 8 U.S.C. § 1324c(d).

Recently, ICE issued fines totaling $255,232 against attorney Vinod Doddamani for similar allegations. The pursuit of these fines reflects a broader strategy to deter fraudulent activities in immigration processes.