February 11, 07

NEWS / Web site warns immigrants about scam potential

LUMBERTON ??” Illegal immigrants scrambling to get documents to protect themselves from deportation need to be cautious so they don??™t fall prey to those who want to capitalize on their desperation, federal and state officials say.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued a warning about the potential for immigration fraud on its Web site.
Local Hispanic leaders fear con artists will come to the area seeking to profit from illegal immigrants??™ fears after the arrests of more than a dozen Smithfield packing plant workers last month.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested 21 people at the plant in Tar Heel on Jan. 24. Twenty men and one woman face administrative charges, which include being in the U.S illegally and overstaying a work visa.

???People are very easy to believe someone, especially when they need some help,??? said the Rev. Carlos Arce, priest at St. Andrew??™s Catholic Church in Red Springs. ???It is important to be aware of information about taxes and about documents to work because now a lot of people are trying to take advantage. People need to be aware regarding those that offer many things that are not possible.???

Arce said he has been fielding questions from parishioners about taxes, work visas and where to go for help.

Hispanics should be wary of people who charge large fees to fill out paperwork. They should seek assistance from a lawyer or a reputable group, said Chris Rhatigan, a spokesman for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

???Someone who hangs a sign out on a street corner and says they can provide immigration documents, you should be wary of,??? Rhatigan said. ???If they guarantee absolute success, you may want to be a little bit careful of who you are dealing with.???

There have been cases where illegal immigrants have been told they could apply for a temporary worker program, she said. There is no such program at this time.

Congressional leaders are debating immigration legislation, which includes the establishment of a temporary worker program.

The warning on the Citizenship and Immigration Web site says people should not pay any fees or fines to anyone who claims he can help apply for or receive benefits from the program.

Some immigrants have had problems with notary publics, Rhatigan said. There have been cases where immigrants have lost thousands of dollars to people they thought were lawyers. In some Latin countries, notary publics also are lawyers.

Rhatigan suggested that people ask to see a license.

???Some people are pretending to be something they are not,??? she said.

A person doesn??™t have to have a law degree to fill out forms for immigrants, Rhatigan said. ???However, they (the immigrants) run the risk of being fleeced.???
Nationwide problem

Individuals filing fraudulent documents for work permits or visas is a problem across the country, said Charles Kuck, vice president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association in Washington, D.C. It is a greater issue in rural areas where there are large numbers of immigrants.

???They spend thousands of dollars for benefits they don??™t qualify for or for programs that don??™t exist,??? he said. ???They are left holding the bag when immigration comes looking for them. Usually, it??™s the people in their own community who are taking advantage of them, which is a real tragedy.???

People should first understand that immigration law is the law, Kuck said, and just filling out a form won??™t protect them.

Kuck said it??™s unfortunate that people are playing on immigrants??™ fears.

???If ICE is as vigilant with these folks as they are with illegal immigrants, this problem wouldn??™t exist,??? he said.
Staff writer Venita Jenkins can be reached at jenkinsv@fayettevillenc.com or (910) 738-9158.

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