My name is Andreea Parc.
In 2017, I was a general practitioner with only 25–30% of my caseload involving immigration matters. I never imagined I would become a cautionary tale — a living example made during a political crackdown not on crime, but on compassion.
That year marked the beginning of what would soon become a legal and ethical minefield for immigration attorneys and legal professionals under the Trump administration. I was swept into it — not because I knowingly broke the law, but because someone had to be made an example. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, serving the wrong population, under the wrong administration.
I believed in the criminal justice system. I believed that truth, ethics, and hard work would protect me.
I was wrong.
I was sentenced to five years in federal prison for Asylum Fraud, False Statements, and Identity Theft.
I spent nearly three years behind bars.
I lost everything I had worked two decades to build — my license, my business, my reputation, my identity. Gone.
And I was far from alone.
At Danbury Federal Prison Camp, there were 12 attorneys out of 180 women — a staggering percentage, considering how few legal professionals typically end up incarcerated. These were not hardened criminals. They were professionals — like me — who made mistakes, missed red flags, or trusted the wrong people. And when the government came, their offices collapsed like houses of cards.
The Most Important Lesson I Learned
When shit hits the fan, everyone disappears.
The receptionist. The paralegal. The associate. The people who once called you “boss” or “mentor” vanish. Even clients who once trusted you with their lives may turn on you to save themselves.
You are alone.
And when your name is on the dotted line, you are responsible for everything.
2025: History Repeats Itself — Louder
Now, in March 2025, President Trump’s second term is echoing his first — only this time with greater intensity. He is openly demanding that the DOJ and DHS prosecute immigration attorneys who do not “follow the rules.”
🔗 White House Memo: Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court (March 2025)
Let me be clear:
If the Department of Justice wants to find something — they will.
United States of America v. [Your Name] might not be far-fetched.
This isn’t paranoia.
This is pattern.
This is precedent.
And I lived it.
The Weaponization of Technicalities
If you’ve read Three Felonies a Day by Harvey Silverglate, you know the argument: our legal system is so complex that the average American unknowingly commits multiple felonies daily.
Now imagine that — amplified — for a legal professional working in immigration law, one of the most intricate, inconsistent, and politically charged areas of practice in America.
It takes just:
- One incomplete form
- One misinterpreted question
- One client who withholds information
…and suddenly, you’re a criminal.
In Trump’s First Term, We Saw:
- Zero-tolerance immigration policies
- Family separations at the border
- Criminalization of aid and advocacy
- A growing mistrust of immigration lawyers, especially those helping vulnerable communities
Now in 2025, the message is louder and clearer:
Trump isn’t just targeting immigrants — he’s targeting those who serve them.
We are no longer seen as protectors of justice.
We are now seen as obstacles to enforcement.
Lessons From the Frontlines
This isn’t a theoretical warning.
I’m not writing this as a policy expert or activist.
I’m writing as someone who paid the price.
I was not an “immigration attorney.” I was a general practitioner with a diverse caseload. But when the DOJ wanted to send a message, they chose me — and the sentencing judge at SDNY made that clear.
They didn’t care that I was trying to help.
They didn’t care that my clients trusted me.
They didn’t care that I believed in the system.
They needed a headline.
And I gave them one.
How to Protect Your Practice — And Your Life
If you are practicing immigration law — even just a few cases a year — you are now in the line of fire.
To protect yourself, your freedom, and your family from unimaginable loss, here’s what you must do:
- Tighten Every Office Procedure
Standardize intake. Use multi-step verification. Document everything in writing. - Document Everything — Excessively
Don’t just meet the legal minimum. Exceed it. Keep redundant records of every action and conversation. - Train Your Team Thoroughly
Everyone must understand the stakes. Hold regular compliance meetings. Build a culture of accountability. - Get Audited
Hire outside counsel to audit your systems. Find mistakes before the DOJ does. - Own Your Signature
If your name is on the form, you are liable — no matter who prepared it or what your client told you. - Assume Nothing. Verify Everything.
If a client lies, and it comes to light — you are the one they’ll charge, not them. - Don’t Rely on “Good Faith”
Good intentions are no longer a defense. Helping can be reframed as harboring. Serving can be spun as scheming. - If You Find a Mistake, Act Immediately
Don’t wait. No matter how small or uncomfortable, take action and correct the error. It’s always better to come forward and fix it yourself than to have the government find it. Because when they do, they won’t see it as a mistake — they’ll treat it as fraud.
We Must Not Be Silent
We became lawyers because we believed in justice.
But in a system where justice is weaponized, we must protect ourselves — and each other — with eyes wide open.
We must not be naïve.
We must not be unprepared.
We must not be silent.
If it could happen to me — with a partial immigration caseload — it can happen to you.
Want to Know the Full Story?
I share my story because I want to prevent others from walking the same path.
If you want to know the full story of how I went from attorney to inmate and ultimately to author and advocate for attorneys and other high achieving professionals, you can read it in my memoir: 📘 Alive. Again. My Journey from Attorney to Redemption… in Prison
Now available on Amazon and other platforms.
👉 Read it here
Let this article be your warning — and your shield.
There is still time to protect your practice, your freedom, and your mission — but only if you act now.
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#ImmigrationLaw #LegalProfessionalsAtRisk #TrumpPolicies2025 #ProtectYourPractice
#LegalCompliance #ImmigrationDefense #ThreeFeloniesADay #LawUnderPressure
#JusticeAndIntegrity #ScapegoatedLawyers
Keywords: immigration attorneys, Trump immigration policy, 2025 DOJ crackdown, legal integrity, immigration law compliance, scapegoating lawyers, three felonies a day, legal ethics, protecting law firms, immigration policy enforcement, attorney imprisonment
