|
FIL-AM GETS 5 YEARS FOR "FIXING" VISITOR'S VISAS
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
According to a recent US Embassy press release,
Charles Joseph “Joey” Becker helped more than 3,000
Filipinos enter the U.S. illegally by providing them with fraudulent
documentation and false identities. The 53-year-old Filipino-American
has accumulated so much money from these illegal activities that
he was able to live in Beverly Hills.
But the long arm of the law finally caught up with
him this year, and just recently, a US District Court Judge in
California sentenced him to five years in federal prison in the
United States. A jury had earlier convicted Becker on five felony
counts, including “fraud and misuse of visas” and
“inducing illegal aliens to enter the United States.”
Becker was found guilty of operating an immigration
business intended to bring Filipinos to the U.S. illegally. The
judge and jury also found Becker guilty of perjury, intimidation
of witnesses, and obstruction of justice. Becker and five former
employees are also facing charges in the Philippines for fraud
and related activities.
Becker’s illegal business, according to the
Embassy, was based in Manila and Los Angeles. After his clients
arrived in the U.S., Becker would issue them fraudulent social
security and immigration documents so they could seek employment.
Becker’s arrest last year was followed by
a crackdown by the INS on three “immigration consultants”
in Los Angeles for allegedly “falsely portraying themselves
as lawyers, false advertising, and taking advantage of immigrant
clients.”
It is obvious that the INS and the State Department,
through the US Embassies and consulates, do not want people to
be victimized by unlicenced and illegal immigration consultants.
Federal authorities have persecuted Becker, the three LA “immigration
consultants” and other alien smugglers, to show the U.S.
government’s resolve to stop such illegal activities.
People who continue to entrust their immigration
matters to these illegal operators are forewarned that their cases
could be jeopardized for the simple reason that the mere act of
“completion and filing” of your immigration forms
by these consultants is considered “illegal.” Besides,
it is a crime to provide false information and to use fake documents.
In their desire to get into the United States, many
people fall victims to these illegal operators, who make all kinds
of promises. Some people, in their desperation, turn a blind eye
to the illegal activities of these consultants and throw caution
to the wind, just so they can work and live in the U.S.
But with the current crackdown by the INS and federal authorities
against illegal immigrants following the September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks, it won’t be long before the U.S. authorities reach
not only the people who brought illegal aliens into the U.S.,
but also the illegal immigrants themselves who availed of their
illegal services.
The bottom line is that fraudulent representations
won’t give you the immigration benefits you desire. The
“shortcut” to immigration that these illegal operators
promise can only lead you to deeper trouble -- a shameful deportation
or, worse, a term in jail.
There is no substitute for honest, legitimate avenues
for visa or immigration benefits. It may take longer than the
“quick fixes” offered by unscrupulous consultants,
but if you are really qualified for the visa or immigration benefit
you are seeking, you should always do it right and follow the
law.
If you desire to enter the United States as a visitor
or as an immigrant, I suggest you consult with, and retain the
services of a reputable attorney, who could analyze your case
and options, and guide you through the process the legal way.
Back
to Main
|
