Federal Prosecutor Sanctioned Over Baseless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Accusation

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooks Chupp was reprimanded by Judge Diane J. Humetewa of the U.S. District Court for Arizona for filing a claim that lacked evidentiary support. The claim alleged that the attorney representing an unnamed Iranian asylum-seeker had falsely asserted a pending immigration appeal to block his deportation. attorneys and the need for factual claims to be backed by evidence. The compliance deadline is June 30, 2027.

Newsweek

The incident occurred amid President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown, which has expanded ICE deportations and introduced third-country removal programs. Critics have linked the heightened enforcement to increased legal disputes over migrants’ rights and the arguments presented by their counsel.

Newsweek

The ruling concluded that Chupp violated Rule 11(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires attorneys to ensure factual assertions are supported by evidence. The judge noted that Chupp failed to investigate his claim—such as by contacting the Iranian man’s lawyer—and that the government later admitted it possessed no records to substantiate the alleged pending appeal.

Newsweek

• “That inference was wholly unreasonable, unsupported by the evidence, and antithetical to the ethical rules that guide attorney conduct.” — Diane J. Humetewa, made by judge

Newsweek

Chupp must finish the mandated legal-training modules by June 30, 2027, as stipulated in the court order.

Newsweek