Thousands of immigrants got scammed by an attorney exploiting humanitarian visas, lawsuits say

Associated Press (AP) — An attorney in Washington state promised “miracles” to tens of thousands of immigrants seeking legal status. Instead, lawsuits and a legal ethics investigation say her firm fabricated abuse or human trafficking claims about clients in order to apply for humanitarian visas. The lawsuits say this was all done without her clients’ knowledge. In June 2026, Alexandra Lozano’s law firm shut down after the state bar accused her of misconduct. Lozano has denied wrongdoing but permanently surrendered her law license. Federal data shows immigration service scams are rising, however Lozano’s alleged scheme stands out for its massive scale. She is accused of building an assembly-line system to churn through visa applications, hiring unlicensed staff abroad to provide legal advice.