NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, DC, July 30, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have initiated proceedings to impose a civil penalty of nearly $471,000 against an immigration attorney accused of filing dozens of asylum applications containing allegedly “copy-paste” persecution stories on behalf of clients, many of them of Indian origin.
Attorney Suraj Raj Singh, who handles immigration cases across the United States, is accused of preparing and submitting 118 fraudulent documents in 54 immigration cases, according to a Notice of Intent to Fine issued by ICE.
Federal authorities allege that Singh filed asylum applications containing nearly identical language, narratives and factual accounts of persecution for different clients. According to DHS, many of the declarations appeared to have been copied and reused rather than reflecting each applicant’s unique circumstances.
The government alleges that the filings violated federal immigration document fraud laws and is seeking the maximum civil penalty of $470,584 under 8 U.S.C. § 1324c, which authorizes fines for immigration-related document fraud.
The action marks one of the first major cases brought under the Trump administration’s expanded crackdown on alleged asylum fraud by immigration attorneys.
In May, DHS directed ICE attorneys to more aggressively investigate and pursue lawyers suspected of submitting fraudulent asylum applications. The directive also called for referrals for professional discipline or criminal investigation where appropriate.
The case against Singh follows a similar enforcement action announced last month against another immigration attorney, Vinod Doddamani, who was accused of filing 64 fraudulent documents in 32 asylum cases using repetitive narratives. DHS is seeking more than $250,000 in civil penalties in that matter.
Unlike a criminal prosecution, the proceedings against Singh are administrative in nature. The Notice of Intent to Fine does not establish wrongdoing but begins a legal process in which Singh may contest the allegations before an administrative law judge. He would also have the right to seek judicial review of any final decision.
Reuters reported that Singh did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The case is being closely watched by immigration attorneys because it signals a more aggressive federal effort to scrutinize asylum filings and hold legal representatives accountable for allegedly fraudulent submissions.
If successful, the action could have broader implications for how asylum applications are prepared and reviewed, particularly in cases involving large-volume immigration practices.
As of now, the allegations against Singh remain unproven, and no final determination has been made regarding the proposed civil penalty.
