WASHINGTON, D.C. (Le Floridien) — A nationwide immigration attorney is facing nearly $500,000 in civil penalties after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accused him of filing fraudulent asylum documents in dozens of immigration cases, marking another step in the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on alleged immigration fraud.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), attorney Suraj Raj Singh received a Notice of Intent to Fine seeking $470,584, the maximum civil penalty allowed under federal law. ICE alleges Singh prepared and submitted 118 fraudulent documents across 54 asylum cases, many of which contained nearly identical narratives and claims of persecution.
Federal officials say Singh’s practice primarily represented Indian nationals seeking asylum before U.S. immigration courts. Investigators allege the asylum applications relied on repetitive language and substantially similar supporting documents, raising concerns that the claims were not individually prepared.
The DHS said this is only the second time it has pursued civil penalties against an immigration attorney under 8 U.S.C. § 1324c(d), a federal law that authorizes fines for immigration-related document fraud. Officials described the case as part of a broader effort to protect the integrity of the U.S. asylum system.
The action follows a policy announced earlier this year by DHS General Counsel James Percival, authorizing ICE attorneys to pursue enforcement actions against lawyers accused of filing fraudulent asylum claims. Under the directive, attorneys who knowingly submit false immigration documents may face substantial civil penalties.
The Singh case also comes shortly after ICE sought more than $255,000 in civil penalties against another immigration attorney, Vinod Doddamani, over separate allegations involving fraudulent asylum filings. DHS officials say the recent cases demonstrate a new enforcement strategy targeting not only fraudulent applicants but also professionals accused of facilitating immigration document fraud.
As of the latest reports, Singh has not publicly responded to the allegations. A Notice of Intent to Fine is an administrative enforcement action and does not constitute a criminal conviction. The attorney will have an opportunity to respond through the administrative process before any final penalty is imposed.
