Immigration Reform News 2014: New York Immigrants Rights Groups Anticipating Obama Announcement Start Preparing
New Yorkers are poised for the Obama Administration Immigration Reform relief announcement later this week.
New York state and city agencies along with grassroots organizations are making preparations to ensure that all eligible New Yorkers have access to information and assistance, and do not become victims of immigration fraud.
The New York Immigration Coalition, in collaboration with grassroots immigration partners through the New York Immigration Assistance Consortium, will announce new resources to help communities prepare and, ultimately, apply for new or newly enlarged programs on Wednesday afternoon.
Resources include legal services, immigration hotlines and a public relations campaign organized through District Attorney offices to alert people to dishonest 'notarios' who scam immigrants.
New York State just recently administered a fund of $2.2 million as restitution to immigrants defrauded by "assistance organizations" through the New York Legal Assistance Group. The fund was a result of a lawsuit filed by then-New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo against the International Immigrants Foundation (IIF) and International Professional Association, who were found to be defrauding immigrants with promises of citizenship and residency, and charging exorbitant fees for services.
In the complaint, a person who sought immigration-related legal service was first required to pay an initial registration fee of $100, plus a monthly fee of $30, to become and remain a member of IIF. The member then would be required to pay a $500 consultation fee and at least several thousand dollars more to have immigration papers prepared and filed.
"Too often we hear about vulnerable immigrants preyed upon by notaries and other unauthorized practitioners of law of charge outrageous fees with wrongful assurances of citizenship and residency,' said Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition.