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COUPLE NABBED FOR PRACTICING LAW ILLEGALLY
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
For years, thousands of people
have been cheated of their hard-earned money by immigration consultants
who promise quick-fix solutions to the victims’ immigration
problems. Authorities have cracked down on these predators, but
many of them re-emerge in other cities after paying fines.
Just recently, police jailed a couple in San Jose,
California for defrauding thousands of undocumented aliens by
charging them thousands of dollars for immigration work. Noel
Ramayrat and Mercedes Alcantara misrepresented their consulting
business as a law firm and conducted “massive immigration
fraud.”
The arrests came as the governmental agencies intensify
the crackdown on consultants who practice law without a license
and victimize undocumented aliens.
The couple had operated two businesses based in San Jose, namely
“Labor and Immigration Consulting
Group”, which offered to “help” immigrants
obtain green cards and other immigration documents, and “EmpBase”,
which helped find employers willing to sponsor Filipino workers,
using advertisements, seminars and word of mouth.
Ramayrat, falsely representing himself as an attorney,
charged up to $6,000 to process labor certification and green
card applications. Most of these cases, according to the district
attorney’s office, had little chance of being approved by
the Department of Labor and the Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS).
Ramayrat and Alcantara also lured victims into
believing that they could help people get “amnesty”
for immigrants under a new law. They also deceived professionals
in the Philippines with promises of high-paying jobs with U.S.
employers, who would sponsor them for working visas.
Deputy District Attorney Dale Lohman stated: “Think
what you want about people who are here illegally, they did not
deserve to be treated like this. These were dishwashers, busboys.
It has destroyed the lives of many people.”
With the arrest of these two consultants, it won’t
be long now before the INS checks on the couple’s list of
clients or customers. Because these clients put their trust in
unscrupulous immigration consultants, instead of seeking the services
of a reputable attorney, the
couple’s victims now stand to lose not only their hard-earned
money and precious time, but they have also put their future in
the United States in jeopardy.
Many people go to consultants because they think
that they can save money, that immigration consultants can do
work “just like a lawyer”, and that many of these
consultants supposedly have “connections” in the INS.
But the law is clear – consultants are prohibited from practicing
law or even offering legal advice. If they are breaking the law
(by offering advice), and operating illegally, how can you expect
them to help you get “legal”?
Your immigration situation is very critical
to your future in this country. It is imperative that you entrust
your future to a reliable and reputable attorney, who is licensed
by the State Bar and has the knowledge and experience in handling
immigration cases, and who can help you obtain visa, green card
or citizenship in the only way possible – legally.
If you have an immigration problem, see a reputable attorney,
who will analyze your situation and help you obtain the immigration
benefit for which you are qualified. Don’t rely on consultants
who are breaking the law themselves.
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