Legal and Illegal Immigrants Vulnerable to Fraud: Beware Notarios and Other Unlicensed Immigration Advice
Posted on | December 22, 2009 | 2 Comments
No part of American society or our economy is more vulnerable than immigrants. For undocumented workers, low wages and zero benefits are the norm, work is hard, and a broken taillight can mean ICE detention and a one-way ticket to desolate Presidio, Texas. Even for lawful permanent residents, a drug charge or a bar fight—simple lapses in judgment—can lead to the loss of one’s Green Card and chances at naturalizing as a U.S. citizen. For the estimated 18 percent of people from Reno, Las Vegas, and throughout Nevada who are foreign-born, another danger often takes the form of those who purport to help immigrants.
From news reports in New Jersey last week, we learn that a woman has been arrested after running a scam in which she posed as a federal immigration official and promised illegal immigrants that she would use her authority to expedite their petitions (I-601 waivers, work authorizations, etc.) in exchange for large payments. Over a period of five years, the woman ensnared dozens in her trap and charged them $13,000 per person for services she had no way of providing. If anyone complained, she threatened to have them deported.
While this woman’s fraud will be dealt with, hundreds of other hucksters operate in plain sight as notarios. The notario problem is one immigrant advocates continue to struggle with for several reasons. First, the Spanish title “notario público,” when used in Central America, describes someone with extensive legal training comparable to that of a lawyer; in the United States, a notary is a low-level, pseudo-legal authorization. Thus someone can be a licensed Notary Public in this country but be mistaken for a full-fledged lawyer.
Second, many notarios are unscrupulous enough to exploit this confusion. Rather than explain that they lack the training and immigration law experience needed to properly complete an immigration petition, they often invite the confusion with signs advertising immigration services. Presenting themselves as immigration specialists, these notarios sometimes charge hundreds of dollars for forms immigrants could obtain on their own yet they do not provide the advice and guidance necessary for so many immigration processes.
Worse, sometimes incompetent notarios will attempt to complete the forms and file petitions. Without a full understanding of immigration regulations, this can be disastrous for illegal aliens. Every month our office has to fight to protect from deportation those immigrants who were misled by a notario.
As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. When it comes to overcoming your illegal status or completing a complex and technical immigration petition, having access to experienced legal advice is a necessity. Going to a notario instead of a qualified immigration lawyer might save you money today, but the chances are that it will cost you a lot more in the future. Please contact our offices in Reno or Las Vegas today for expert legal advice or referrals to our non-profit partners.
Tags: Citizenship > Deportation > Detention > Green Card > I-601 Waiver of Inadmissibility > Immigration Attorney > Immigration Lawyer > Naturalization > Nevada > Nevada-Las Vegas > Nevada-Reno > Non-Profit > Notario > Permanent Resident > Presidio - Texas > Undocumented > Work Authorization
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2 Responses to “Legal and Illegal Immigrants Vulnerable to Fraud: Beware Notarios and Other Unlicensed Immigration Advice”
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May 22nd, 2010 @ 9:01 pm
It would surprise me to discover that there are actually notary publics in Nevada who are going around posing as attorneys who can handle immigration matters. That would take some talent! Hatcher Notary has been in the business for over 15 years, and pride ourselves on displaying complete honesty and the highest integrity.
May 27th, 2010 @ 12:21 pm
It is surprising, and disappointing as well. Sadly, the majority of these notarios lack the “talent” to competently handle immigration matters. Of course, they also lack the legal authority to do so, but that is less important to desperate immigrants who will pay any price to get papers so they can build a life in this country.
Thank you for the work you do and the pride you take in quality service.