The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new policy letting immigration authorities act against law firms aiding immigration fraud. Specifically, the new policy gives Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authority to conduct enforcement actions against immigration law firms or attorneys that file false asylum claims in immigration court. The move falls in line with the government’s increasingly strict approach towards immigration and immigration violations.
The policy ensures the DHS is better following an executive order enacted on March 22, 2025. The order, “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court”, targets unethical and fraudulent actions in the immigration court system. For example, the government considers law firms telling clients to withhold details about their past as a form of fraud.
Law firms must ensure their all their assertions in court are “reasonably based” on evidence or the belief said evidence exists. If a lawyer or law firm engaged in fraudulent activity, they’re subject to disciplinary action. The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security manages said disciplinary actions. As for actual applicants, make sure all information is correct and accurate before submitting an application or petition to U.S. immigration authorities. This decreases the odds of immigration officers suspecting fraud.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.