Document is also forwarded to the American Bar Association and requests an investigation into the exploitation of vulnerable immigrants.
Washington, D.C., December 8, 2025 — American citizen Samuel Sales Saraiva submitted to the United States Attorney General, Merrick B. Garland, a formal complaint reporting alleged fraudulent, unethical, and potentially criminal practices committed by certain immigration attorneys across the country. The document, sent simultaneously to the American Bar Association (ABA), requests an immediate investigation and disciplinary measures against professionals who, according to the complainant, have exploited immigrants in vulnerable situations.
In the complaint, Saraiva states that some attorneys have been charging excessive fees, filing frivolous petitions with no legal viability, and using misleading advertising to attract clients who are unaware of their rights. The text highlights that, given fear, institutional pressure, and lack of information, many immigrants become easy targets of economic exploitation.
The complainant stresses that the described conduct does not represent the majority of legal professionals, but warns that such isolated practices tarnish the credibility of the legal profession and contribute to the congestion of immigration courts. He emphasizes that the administrative reviews conducted under the current federal immigration policy of President Donald Trump’s Administration, with the likely cancellation of thousands of fraudulent residency visas, will confirm the need for corrective measures.
Samuel requests:
– the opening of a formal investigation by the Department of Justice – DOJ;
– joint action with Bar Associations for disciplinary accountability;
– adoption of criminal measures when applicable;
– creation of educational initiatives to prevent abuses;
– audit of suspicious cases.
In an attached justification, he emphasized acting out of civic duty, stressing that his intention is to protect human dignity and strengthen the integrity of legal institutions, contributing to the “promotion of legality and ethics.”
The complaint was officially forwarded to the Department of Justice and the American Bar Association for evaluation (an entity equivalent to the Brazilian OAB).
Here is the full text:
FORMAL COMPLAINT – On Fraudulent and Unethical Practices by Immigration Attorneys
Complainant: URGENT
Samuel Sales Saraiva
Recipient:
The Honorable Merrick B. Garland
Attorney General of the United States
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, DC 20530-0001
CC:
President of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
Washington, DC 20036
I. PURPOSE
I submit this formal complaint regarding fraudulent, unethical, and potentially criminal practices perpetrated by certain immigration attorneys. For transparency purposes, I inform that a copy of this complaint is being simultaneously sent to the American Bar Association.
II. FACTS
- Reports indicate that some immigration attorneys have induced undocumented immigrants to pay excessive fees for immigration benefits with no legal or factual basis.
- To justify such charges, they file frivolous petitions based on inconsistent and implausible narratives, with no real chance of success.
- They use misleading and persuasive advertising, creating false expectations.
- Such practices violate ethical rules and constitute fraud by inducing vulnerable individuals into error for economic gain.
- The administrative reviews of immigration cases, under the direction of President Donald Trump’s Administration — including retroactive analyses of green cards granted during the Biden administration — tend to reveal irregular cases, confirming the seriousness of the complaint and contributing to the congestion of immigration courts.
- These practices exploit vulnerable immigrants, drain their resources, and worsen their legal situation.
III. HARM TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION
These practices do not represent the majority of attorneys, who act with ethics and dignity. However, the illicit conduct of some unfairly tarnishes the image of the profession and undermines public trust in the legal system.
IV. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
The conduct may violate:
– Federal laws on fraud and false statements;
– Bar Association Codes of Ethics;
– Rules against misleading advertising;
– Norms prohibiting frivolous petitions;
– Duties of honesty, diligence, and loyalty.
V. REQUESTS
It is requested that:
- A formal investigation be opened;
- Cooperation with Bar Associations for disciplinary measures;
- Administrative and criminal proceedings when applicable;
- Educational measures to protect immigrants;
- Public defense of the integrity of the legal profession;
- Priority audit of suspicious cases.
VI. CONCLUSION
This complaint seeks to protect vulnerable individuals and preserve the integrity of the legal system.
VII. JUSTIFICATION
I submit this statement with full awareness of the responsibility inherent in the exercise of citizenship, a responsibility that transcends the occupation of public office or elected mandates. It is a moral and constitutional duty of any citizen who understands that human dignity and the integrity of institutions are non-negotiable legal values that must always be protected.
The initiative presented here is based on the conviction that it is not enough for citizens to be passive observers in the face of situations that may constitute abuse, exploitation, or violation of fundamental rights. On the contrary, the democratic order encourages and presupposes the active participation of society in the promotion of legality and the defense of civilizational values.
It is in this context that it becomes necessary to highlight that immigrants in irregular documentary situations are, historically and in daily practice, a particularly vulnerable group to:
• institutional pressures;
• fear and legal insecurity;
• lack of qualified information;
• and, unfortunately, abusive practices by some professionals who deviate from the ethical and fiduciary duties that govern the legal profession.
It should be emphasized, however, that this complaint does not seek, under any circumstances, to tarnish the legal profession as an institution, whose role is indispensable to the administration of justice. On the contrary, its purpose is to preserve the integrity and nobility of the profession by identifying and disciplining conduct that deviates from its ethical foundations.
It is also important to state that there is no intention here to criminalize immigrants, but rather to protect human beings who, due to their vulnerable condition, become easy targets for economic, emotional, or legal exploitation. The Constitution, international human rights treaties, and principles of public ethics all converge toward the obligation to ensure that everyone has access to a minimum of dignity, respect, and information.
This initiative does not seek personal visibility nor represents a desire for protagonism. It is driven by an ethical commitment to truth, a sense of social responsibility, and the understanding that citizenship requires moral courage to point out what needs to be corrected and improved — even when that means breaking the comfortable silence that has historically concealed injustices.
Thus, this complaint is presented with a preventive and educational character, aiming to alert competent authorities to practices that, at times, go unnoticed — not because they do not exist, but because no one is willing to report them responsibly, substantively, and impartially. It is a strictly civic gesture, guided by the public interest and the defense of human dignity — values that I consider non-negotiable and essential to the advancement of democracy and justice.
Respectfully,
Samuel Sales Saraiva
U.S. Citizen
Washington, DC. December 8, 2025