ICE opens up new front in war on fraud with new first-of-its-kind policy: 'On notice'

By Fox News · Fox News

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has opened up a new front in the Trump administration ’s war on fraud through a first-of-its-kind policy fining attorneys for filing fraudulent asylum claims on behalf of immigrants. James Percival, general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security , posted on X that the move puts fraudsters "on notice." "Last month, we put the open borders industrial complex on notice — fraudulent asylum claims would result in fines against attorneys," wrote Percival. He said that on Tuesday, DHS fined an attorney over $255,000 for filing multiple fraudulent claims on behalf of Indian immigrants to the U.S. ICE DROPS ‘UNCONTROLLED’ FRAUD BOMBSHELL INVOLVING THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN STUDENTS, ‘PHANTOM EMPLOYEES’ ICE doubled down, posting on X that "the days of attorneys abusing and defrauding our immigration system are OVER." In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, DHS said Homeland Security Investigations filed five notices of intent to fine attorney Vinod Doddamani for allegedly filing 64 fraudulent documents on behalf of primarily Indian nationals. DHS said that Doddamani operates a nationwide practice of filing asylum applications on behalf of mostly Indian immigrants in immigration courts. In support of these asylum claims, DHS said Doddamani filed declarations that were identical or nearly identical in language and substance. The agency said the declarations contained the same or nearly the same factual narrative and supporting details regarding the alleged persecution. Fox News Digital reached out to Doddamani for comment. WOMAN EXPOSED RUNNING VISA FRAUD SCHEME SPANNING YEARS, POSING AS IMMIGRATION OFFICER The agency said the fines are in line with a directive Percival issued last month authorizing ICE attorneys to take enforcement actions against immigration attorneys who file false asylum claims in court. At the time, Percival explained that "protection claims like asylum are intended to cover unique and narrow circumstances…