Bill Would Protect Immigrants From Scams

In 1997, a woman came to the offices of the Special Commission on the Dignity of Immigrants and told a common tale.
The Ecuadorian single mother of two had given a total of $35,000 to a man who claimed he could help her get a green card. For three years, the woman, who earned a meager wage as a motel maid, had scrimped and borrowed to pay what he said were necessary Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) fees. But in the end, the man disappeared and she was without the cherished papers.
"That woman opened my eyes to this problem," said Jos Peralta, who worked for the special commission at the time and is now its director, and the State Assemblyman-elect from Corona. Now he, Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing) and State Senator Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) are urging the passage of a bill that would help put an end to similar scams that take advantage of thousands of immigrants every year.
The legislation would require that immigrant consultantswho are not lawyers, but may help shepherd immigrants applications for visas or green cards through the complex INS systembe licensed by the state. That would allow the government to prosecute licensed immigrant consultants who do not abide by state standards, as well as consultants who operate without a license.
"The issue of scamming immigrants out of their life savings turns my stomach," said McLaughlin. "This legislation is designed to regulate [immigration consultants] so hard-working men and women dont place themselves in a situation where they can be ripped off." He noted that since many immigrants do not speak English or understand the US legal system, they are particularly vulnerable to such scams. Additionally, illegal immigrants who fall prey to such scams are often afraid to report the crime to police, because they fear deportation.
Peralta agreed, adding that in his 20 years as a Corona resident he often saw people asking immigrants if they wanted to buy a Social Security number or a green card on neighborhood streets.
"Barbers and realtors are regulated," said Padavan. "This is no different."
The 12-page bill, which was first introduced in 1996, has never made it to a vote in the state Congress. According to McLaughlin, many immigration attorneys are against the bill because legitimizing the consultants could cut into their business. Peralta also said some immigrant groups fear that the licensing process and could make it harder for legitimate immigrant counselors to practice. However, he said he believed that would not be the case.
All three politicians said the problem of immigrant scams increased after 1996, when the US Congress passed harsh new immigration laws, including one that bars immigrants without proper documentation from returning to the US for 10 years if they leave. Since then, thousands of illegal immigrants have desperately sought ways of acquiring papers so they can return home periodically to visit family.
Until the bill is passed, immigrants should be on their guard against such schemes. "Any fee over $10,000 is a scam," warned Peralta, explaining that sometimes, lawyers fees reached that amount over time, but such an amount stated at the outset was suspect. Offers of legal status within a few months should also set off warning bells, he said.
Anyone wishing to report a scam should call the Special Commission on the Dignity of Immigrants at (212) 604-9552 and ask for Peralta.