Mitch Perry
South Florida Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch has introduced two bills this week that would protect immigrants from fraud schemes and ensure that they are informed of their legal rights.
The Protecting Immigrants from Legal Exploitation Act (H.R. 912) would impose a fine and possible jail sentence for offering fraudulent immigration legal services. The Immigrant Detainee Legal Rights Act (H.R. 913) would require immigration detention centers to inform immigrant detainees of their legal rights within five days of their arrival at the facilities.
“Immigrant communities are extremely vulnerable to fraudulent legal services schemes,” said Deutch. “These scams are financially costly, can derail complex cases, and can result in people being deported. Also, many immigrants are unaware of their rights as they are processed through high stakes deportation proceedings. These bills will help crack down on fraudulent legal services schemes and ensure that people know their rights as they navigate complex deportation proceedings.”
Deutch is co-sponsring the two bills with Illinois Democratic Representative Bill Foster.
“It may be easy for anyone to fall prey to deceptive practices. Even worse, many immigrants are unable to stay in this country or legally return due to fraudulent or negligent legal services,” said Foster. “We need to make sure these individuals are aware of their legal rights in this country and are not defrauded when they seek to enter this country legally. I am proud to work with Congressman Deutch so that everyone is aware of their rights in this country.”
The legislation is being introduced less than two weeks after President Trump signed an executive order dubbed “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States.” It’s a dramatic reversal of the policies on immigration set forth by Barack Obama.
The order specifically names “aliens who have been convicted of any criminal offense; have been charged with any criminal offense, where such charge has not been resolved; have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense; have engaged in fraud or willful misrepresentation in connection with any official matter or application before a governmental agency; have abused any program related to receipt of public benefits; are subject to a final order of removal, but who have not complied with their legal obligation to depart the United States; or in the judgment of an immigration officer, otherwise pose a risk to public safety or national security.”
Deutch and Foster’s bills have been endorsed by the National Immigration Forum and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.
