Foreign nationals who are out of status, and people who know them, are hopeful for a legal solution and can fall prey to people who will tell them what they want to hear. Immigration reform is being negotiated seriously in the U.S., but it has not happened yet. Newscasters and even employers can help get the correct word out.
Every time the President and Congress openly discuss the prospect of enacting laws that would set a legal path for those present in the U.S. unlawfully, various self-professed "consultants" and "notarios" feed on public ignorance and convince some foreign nationals to pay them money to apply for legalization. The "consultants" end up pocketing the money and disappearing, while the duped foreign national may be caught up in enforcement proceedings.
Newscasters, employers, churches, and other interested parties can help protect unsuspecting foreign nationals and their friends and family by getting the word out that immigration reform has not happened yet and that they should not listen to consultants and notarios suggesting otherwise. They should listen only to qualified attorneys.
Linked at right is a public service announcement of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. We have posted both color and black & white versions, and we will add to this same page on our web site links to a Spanish language version shortly. For more information go to www.stopnotariofraud.org.