A legal assistant in Miami has been charged in a federal court in South Florida with filing a fraudulent asylum application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Andrea C. Correa, 37, who resides in Sunrise, Broward County, is facing federal charges for fabricating an asylum application in violation of U.S. immigration laws, according to a statement from the Miami Federal Prosecutor's Office.
The indictment is based on Title 18, Section 1546(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which criminalizes the submission of immigration documents containing false information. During a hearing, it was revealed that Correa prepared and mailed an asylum application containing multiple fraudulent claims regarding political persecution, despite the applicant, whose nationality was not disclosed, informing her that they had never experienced political harassment in their home country.
Correa has handled over 1,000 asylum applications since 2013, but it remains unclear whether false information was submitted in previous cases. The statement further notes that if found guilty, Correa could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case is part of an ongoing investigation by U.S. authorities, led by the HSI office in West Palm Beach and the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) of the USCIS Asylum Office in Miami, aimed at identifying fraud in asylum petitions.
On the same day, U.S. authorities arrested a former Cuban intelligence agent for alleged fraud related to his permanent legal residence status (LPR). The arrest was confirmed by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Miami, in collaboration with the FBI. HSI emphasized its commitment to identifying and detaining individuals who pose a threat to national security. Although the identity of the detainee has not been disclosed, it is presumed they may face deportation proceedings.
It has been discovered that many asylum applications contain irregularities because they are prepared by legal assistants and notaries instead of accredited attorneys. Café Fuerte, a media outlet with government sources, reported that the rise in immigration has led to an increase in asylum requests. They noted that in fiscal year 2023, USCIS received approximately 454,000 I-589 forms, with an average wait time of four years for resolution. Furthermore, it is estimated that there are over 3.7 million cases pending in immigration courts, they highlighted.
Florida tops the list with the highest number of pending cases (567,226), followed by Texas (490,004) and California (405,230), according to data from Syracuse University, New York.
Key Questions on Asylum Fraud in the U.S.
What charges is Andrea C. Correa facing?
Andrea C. Correa is facing federal charges for fabricating an asylum application with false information, in violation of U.S. immigration laws.
What is the potential penalty for Correa if convicted?
If found guilty, Correa could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
How many asylum applications has Correa managed?
Since 2013, Correa has handled over 1,000 asylum applications.
Why are many asylum applications fraudulent?
Many asylum applications are fraudulent because they are often prepared by legal assistants and notaries instead of accredited attorneys, leading to irregularities.