Authorities have just busted an immigration fraud scheme centered in the heart of Manhattan's Chinatown.

In nine federal indictments unsealed yesterday, the Justice Department charged 26 lawyers, paralegals, translators and other employees who work with 10 New York immigration law firms with helping their Chinese clients lie on their asylum applications and deceive immigration authorities. According to prosecutors, clients paid the defendants to come up with elaborate stories of persecution in their home country, including forced abortion and persecution because of religious or political beliefs. The defendants created fake birth certificates and other official documents.

“Asylum fraud imposes a tremendous burden on the system and it also makes it more difficult for those who are legitimately seeking refuge in this country,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.