Solicitor Jailed for Preying on Immigration Applicants

A deceitful individual masquerading as an immigration lawyer without a valid license has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for exploiting a minimum of 19 victims, raking in substantial financial gains.

Flora Mendes, an Indian national aged 45, previously barred from legal practice due to a prior conviction, has now had assets exceeding £700,000 confiscated by the Home Office following her recent conviction.

Mendes duped her victims by posing as a legitimate immigration lawyer, offering to assist them in obtaining leave to remain in the UK. However, instead of providing genuine aid, she submitted fraudulent applications, knowing they stood no chance of success, all in exchange for payment.

Today, Mendes faced sentencing at St Albans Crown Court, receiving a significant prison term for her crimes. The Judge, in delivering the sentence, underscored Mendes's history of repeated offenses.

This is not Mendes's first encounter with the law. In 2015, she was disbarred as a solicitor for providing immigration advice while under suspension from legal practice.

Despite lacking a valid license and having a criminal record, Mendes continued her illicit activities, attempting to exploit the immigration system for personal gain at the expense of her victims.

In a statement, Michael Tomlinson MP, the Minister for Illegal Migration, emphasized the importance of dismantling networks aiding illegal migrants in remaining in the UK. He reiterated the swift justice awaiting those who exploit the immigration system for profit.

The Home Office is intensifying its crackdown on dishonest immigration lawyers, collaborating closely with regulatory bodies, industry organizations, and law enforcement to prosecute offenders.

To bolster these efforts, a Professional Enablers Taskforce was established in August 2023. This initiative is part of a broader campaign by the Home Office to combat illegal migration, which has seen a significant increase in enforcement activities and returns of individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK.

This week also marks the commencement of detentions preceding the first flights to Rwanda in the next 9 to 11 weeks. The government's Rwanda plan aims to dissuade vulnerable migrants from undertaking perilous journeys across the Channel and ensure that those entering the UK illegally cannot evade consequences.

Andrew Radcliffe of the Home Office's Criminal and Financial Investigations team praised the robust sentencing as a testament to their efforts to crack down on unscrupulous advisers through targeted operations. He encouraged the public to report any potential intelligence to aid their investigations.

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