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Civil and criminal defense when accusations are immigration-driven.

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OverviewWhere the real motive surfaces.

We support your retained local defense counsel with the immigration-law layer the case requires — investigation, fraud assessment, discovery, and cross-examination prep, all built around proving the accuser’s immigration motive.

Deliverables
Fraud Assessment, Discovery Package, Cross-Exam Prep
Timeline
Varies by service
Value
Insight and evidence regarding motive for false allegations.

Requires your retained local defense counsel. Scope and timeline are set per matter in the Retainer Agreement.

The MotiveWhere the false allegations come from.

Federal immigration programs incentivize false allegations of domestic violence and other crimes. The consequence to the accused can be permanent: protective orders, criminal records, custody loss, and in some cases, lengthy prison terms.

Marriage Fraud

  • INA § 204(a)(1)(A)(iii)

    VAWA Self-Petitions

    VAWA self-petitions allow foreign nationals who are married to a U.S. citizen to obtain a path to citizenship without the knowledge or consent of their citizen spouse based merely on allegations of domestic violence.

    Learn more
  • INA § 216(c)(4)(C)

    I-751 Waivers

    I-751 waivers allow conditional permanent residents to remove the conditions on their green card without the knowledge or consent of their citizen spouse based on mere allegations of abuse or extreme mental cruelty.

    Learn more

Humanitarian Fraud

  • INA § 101(a)(15)(U)

    U Visas

    U visas reward illegal aliens with a path to citizenship for merely alleging to be a crime victim — claims often rubber-stamped by sanctuary certifying agencies without meaningful investigation or genuine plans to prosecute the case.

    Learn more
  • INA § 101(a)(15)(T)

    T Visas

    T visas reward illegal aliens with a path to citizenship for merely claiming to be “trafficked” — claims built on self-reported facts and minimal verification. No active criminal investigation or conviction is necessary.

    Learn more

The ProcessHow we support civil and criminal defense counsel.

01

Fraud Investigation

Our fraud investigations establish the factual foundation for the defense. We collect and authenticate evidence about the accuser’s immigration history, conduct independent research, and when appropriate, interview witnesses and coordinate forensic analyses. The result is a verified timeline and witness dossiers that drive every step that follows.

02

Fraud Assessment

Our fraud assessments provide a formal legal opinion from an attorney on whether immigration fraud is in play. We apply complex federal immigration law to the verified facts, evaluate the accuser’s filings and supporting evidence, and deliver a clear roadmap your defense team can use.

03

Discovery Package

Our discovery package gives your local counsel a custom set of written discovery built from the fraud assessment, targeted at uncovering evidence of immigration fraud that local counsel may not identify or pursue.

04

Cross-Examination Prep

We develop cross-examination outlines for deposition and trial designed to establish key facts, test credibility, and expose inconsistencies tied to the immigration motive — for your counsel to use.

Why Codias Law?The motive for false allegations arises from immigration law.

We help local counsel understand it, uncover it, and prove it in court.

  • We understand the motive.

    We provide deep expertise into the central theory of the case — the immigration motive for false allegations.

  • We help assess the fraud.

    We help local counsel assess the viability of a fraud-based defense, consistent with counsel’s duty of candor.

  • We help explain it.

    We translate complex federal immigration law into language the trier of fact can easily understand and apply.

  • We help uncover the evidence.

    We know what evidence matters, where to find it, and how to obtain it consistent with federal law.

  • We help expose the false claims.

    We prepare cross-examination questions to establish critical facts and expose bias and inconsistencies.

  • We help admit the evidence.

    We help your counsel lay foundation, authenticate the exhibits, and supply the immigration-law context the rules of evidence require.

The PlaybookDocumented schemes, not theoretical risks.

These are not hypothetical patterns. The “victim visa” fraud playbook is well documented in government reports, prosecutions, and mainstream news reports. Here is the sequence the false allegations typically follow.

This is rarely a solo effort. The accuser is usually guided through every step by a conspirator — a family member, an advocate, or in some cases an unscrupulous immigration practitioner who knows exactly what USCIS will accept.

  1. 01

    Manufactured 911 Call

    The accuser provokes an argument or completely fabricates an incident, calls law enforcement, and feigns distress. Even with no physical evidence of a crime, the report itself becomes “proof” of conflict for the immigration file.

  2. 02

    Ex Parte Protective Order

    The accuser files an ex parte protective order. Courts routinely issue these orders on a self-serving affidavit — no notice to the accused, no opportunity for rebuttal — the order itself becomes “evidence” of abuse.

  3. 03

    Shelter Visit

    The accuser may visit a housing shelter to obtain a victim confirmation letter without any corroboration of underlying allegations. Shelters purport to be crisis centers, not investigators.

  4. 04

    “Trauma” Counselor

    The accuser may hire a therapist to self-report emotional distress. The therapist documents the symptoms, medicalizing unverified allegations and providing further documentation for the fraudster.

  5. 05

    Evidentiary Package

    The four documents are bundled into a VAWA petition — or, with a signed Form I-918 Supplement B, a U-visa application. USCIS adjudicates without testing the claims.

Read more: VAWA playbook  ·  U visa playbook

FAQs

Do you represent me in the civil or criminal case?
No. Your retained local defense counsel represents you in the civil or criminal case, not us — they are lead and counsel of record, advising on procedure, making filings, and appearing in court. We provide the immigration-law analysis, briefing, and cross-examination materials that support the defense.
Do you conduct your own investigation?
Yes. Our investigation establishes the factual foundation for the defense — collecting and authenticating evidence about the accuser’s immigration history, conducting independent research, and assembling a verified timeline and witness dossiers. See our investigations service for what the deliverable includes.
Will a finding in our case affect the accuser’s immigration status?
Maybe. Federal adjudicators decide the accuser’s status, not us. But a state-court fraud finding can support a federal misrepresentation bar (INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i)), trigger removal proceedings, or be referred for criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 1546. When a federal-fraud referral makes sense, see our fraud reporting service.
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