Immigration Lawyer says US Government is Persecuting Him for Helping Christians

An Iraqi-American lawyer who faces prison time after being convicted of immigration fraud says the U.S. government targeted him for speaking out on behalf of Christians.

Federal prosecutors say Robert DeKelaita "coached" clients, prodding them to lie to secure asylum in the United States.

"Evidence at trial revealed that from approximately 2000 to 2011, DeKelaita prepared and submitted asylum applications that contained material lies, including tales of rape, murder, torture, kidnappings, bombings and other forms of religious oppression in the Middle East," Zachary Fardon, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said in a statement.

"As a result, several of DeKelaita's clients were granted asylum and eventually permanent residency and citizenship status," he said.

However, DeKelaita claims the federal government targeted him for complaints against U.S. immigration officials in Detroit, according to FoxNews.com. The news outlet reports DeKelaita accused immigration leaders of accommodating Muslims seeking asylum over Christians.

"It should make anyone pause as to why all of the (government witnesses) were Iraqi Christians," DeKelaita said. "And why all of them are from Detroit. It should make any attorney very afraid that the government can go back to a client from 15 years ago and coerce them."

DeKelaita told FoxNews.com he has assisted around 4,000 Muslims and Christians immigrating to the United States in a career that has spanned close to two decades. He said he devoted his Chicago-based practice 10 years ago to helping Assyrians, the name for Christians in Iraq and Syria, as Muslim extremists ramped up their persecution of them.

A federal jury convicted DeKelaita on one count of conspiracy to commit asylum fraud, two counts of knowingly offering false statements in an asylum application, and one count of procuring perjury during asylum documents.

A U.S. district judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for DeKelaita Aug. 3. The maximum sentence is 35 years in prison.

DeKelaita's supporters have a website, a Facebook page, and Twitter account known as Stand With Robert.;

"We are infuriated that one of our leaders was targeted for helping people escape the horrors of Iraq and Syria," Ramon Michael, a board member of the nonprofit Assyria Foundation, said. "The Assyrian community worldwide has been watching this case. What do you think our opinion of the U.S. government will be if they insist on ruining a man who has earned the utmost respect and gratitude of his people worldwide?"

FoxNews.com reports that DeKelaita is contemplating an appeal and says if he could begin again, he would not change anything.

"I did the best I could for these people," he said. "I knew what they experienced was bad, and I take pride in being able to help anyone -- any religion -- who is being persecuted."