DHS accuses New York attorney of filing copied asylum claims for dozens of Indian clients amid wider immigration crackdown
A New York-based Indian-origin immigration lawyer is facing a proposed civil penalty of more than $470,000 (around ₹4 crore) after US authorities accused him of submitting fraudulent asylum applications on behalf of dozens of clients, most of them Indian nationals, as part of an intensified crackdown on immigration fraud.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has alleged that attorney Suraj Raj Singh prepared and filed 118 fraudulent documents across 54 immigration cases, with many applications containing nearly identical narratives, wording and personal accounts of persecution. Investigators claim several petitions relied on copied or substantially similar statements despite being submitted for different applicants.
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According to DHS, Singh primarily represented Indian asylum seekers from across the United States
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking the maximum civil penalty permitted under federal law for alleged document fraud
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The lawyer will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations through administrative proceedings or in court before any final penalty is imposed
The case forms part of a broader enforcement initiative launched by the Trump administration targeting alleged immigration fraud by legal representatives. Federal authorities argue that fraudulent asylum filings undermine the integrity of the US immigration system and divert resources from applicants with legitimate claims.
Officials have indicated that this is among the first major cases in which immigration authorities have sought substantial financial penalties against practising attorneys under federal document fraud provisions. The administration has signalled that similar action could follow where evidence suggests legal professionals knowingly submitted false or misleading immigration documents.
The allegations against Singh remain unproven, and no final determination has been made. The outcome of the proceedings is expected to be closely watched by immigration lawyers and advocacy groups, as it could influence future enforcement against legal practitioners handling asylum cases in the United States.
