Feds: Immigration lawyer told clients to lie about persecution

The feds say a suburban immigration lawyer told clients to fib their way to asylum in the United States by lying about persecution in Iraq and making up stories about rapes and executions by Islamic militants.

Robert Dekelaita is charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, submitting false documents and encouraging his clients to commit perjury. His trial began in earnest in a full-house courtroom Tuesday at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrianna Kastanek told jurors Dekelaita’s scheme lasted roughly 10 years. He was indicted in September 2014.

“He knew what to say, he knew when to say it, and he knew who to say it to,” Kastanek said.

The prosecutor said Dekelaita’s clients came from all over the world, but to Dekelaita “they all became persecuted Christian minorities.” She said Dekelaita “guaranteed” asylum to his clients for an additional fee, and she said he recruited translators to participate in the fraud.

“The key to this system is truth,” Kastanek said.

Defense attorney William Murphy said Dekelaita, who had offices in Skokie, Lincolnwood and Morton Grove, came to the United States from Iraq when he was 10 years old. He said Dekelaita’s clients were the ones telling the lies, and he said those lies started long before they met Dekelaita. Murphy said many of the people who will testify against Dekelaita, largely through translators, are in the United States illegally.

Federal authorities said in a September 2014 affidavit that seven of Dekelaita’s clients became lawful permanent residents before the fraud was discovered. They said the details of the fraud, as well as the clients’ cooperation, will be reported to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services when the case is complete.

Murphy said the clients are all out to protect themselves and to remain in the United States.

“Every one of them is afraid,” Murphy said.