DHS Orders ICE to Pursue Asylum Lawyers Over Fraud, With Fines Up to $11,823
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · May 26
DHS Orders ICE to Pursue Asylum Lawyers Over Fraud, With Fines Up to $11,823
4 articles · Updated · CBS New York · May 26
A May 26 memo from DHS General Counsel James Percival tells ICE attorneys to aggressively bring administrative fraud cases against immigration lawyers accused of filing false asylum claims.
The directive leans on an existing document-fraud statute rather than new penalties, allowing notices of intent to fine, cease-and-desist orders and, for lawyers, possible referral for suspension or expulsion from immigration court practice.
First offenses can draw civil penalties of up to $4,730 per fraudulent document or act, rising to $11,823 for subsequent offenses; the memo also says ICE should separate fraud prosecutors from the underlying immigration case.
DHS cast the move as part of a broader push to speed removals and tighten immigration-court enforcement, arguing ICE has relied too heavily on judges' discipline and criminal prosecutions instead of its own tools.
The order extends the Trump administration's widening pressure on immigration lawyers and asylum advocates, who say the campaign could chill representation and deter challenges to federal immigration policy.
As the government targets lawyers for asylum fraud, what happens to an immigrant’s right to a fair legal defense?
While officials crack down on asylum fraud, who is stopping the billion-dollar scam industry that preys on vulnerable immigrants?
DHS Orders ICE Crackdown on Asylum Lawyers: Unprecedented Sanctions Threaten Legal Representation and Due Process (May 2026)
Overview
On May 26, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security issued a directive empowering ICE attorneys to aggressively target immigration lawyers suspected of submitting frivolous asylum applications, fraudulent documents, or coaching clients to give false testimony. The memo outlines penalties such as referrals to state bar associations, federal prosecutors, and notices of intent to sanction. This move aims to deter fraud and hold attorneys accountable, sending a strong message about the consequences of misconduct in asylum cases. The directive is part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to limit immigration and reinforce the integrity of the asylum process.