ICE moves to levy over $470,000 against New York asylum lawyer

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued a Notice of Intent to Fine Suraj Raj Singh, a New York-based immigration attorney, for allegedly preparing and filing 118 false documents in 54 asylum cases. DHS officials allege the submissions featured substantially identical accounts of persecution, violating 8 U.S.C. § 1324c(d). ICE is requesting the statutory maximum penalty of $470,584, describing the conduct as a threat to public safety and a strain on the immigration system.

The notice gives Singh a chance to respond before any fine becomes final. This action follows a May directive from DHS General Counsel James Percival to intensify enforcement against fraudulent asylum claims and mirrors a recent multi-lawyer fine totaling $255,232.