Lawrence Couple Admits Preparing False Asylum Applications: Feds

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — A couple from Lawrenceville admitted to their role in preparing and submitting false asylum applications, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Monday.

Zuwairul Ameer, aka “Zuwairul Thowfeek,” 61, and Claudette Ameer, aka “Claudette Pieries,” 63, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton federal court to count one of an indictment charging them with one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.

According to court documents, since at least 2007, Zuwairul Ameer has been preparing fraudulent asylum application on behalf of his non-citizen clients. They operated their business out of their home.

Claudette Ameer managed that business, acting as the primary contact for clients, arranging meetings, and mailing completed applications to USCIS, according to court documents.

With Claudette’s assistance, Zuwairul met with clients, listened to their stories of mistreatment in their countries of origin, and drafted applications on their behalf that were false because they exaggerated the stories of mistreatment; falsely omitted Zuwairul’s name as the preparer or both.

People applying for asylum in the United States must show that they have suffered persecution in their country of origin on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, or have a well-founded fear of persecution if they were to return to that country.

The process requires an application that is reviewed by an asylum officer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), who makes a decision on whether to grant asylum.

If the application has been prepared by someone other than the applicant, the preparer must disclose his or her name and address and must sign the application.

In one case Zuwairul fabricated the description given by an asylum seeker and included that they were stripped naked, tied up, and beaten with batons, court documents said.

The couple charged at least $1,000 per application, court documents said.

The conspiracy charge to which the Ameers have pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 25, 2025.

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