'Immigration consultants' would be regulated under SB144

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SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Luz Robles wants to clamp down on predatory practices of "immigration consultants" who she says are defrauding refugees and immigrants of thousands of dollars.

Robles, D-Salt Lake, is sponsoring SB144 to require consultants who are not attorneys to register with the state Division of Consumer Protection, undergo criminal background checks and post bonds. The bill, which was introduced Monday in the Senate, also creates a complaint process for people who have been defrauded.

Robles said she receives an average of three phone calls a week from people who have been taken advantage of by "immigration consultants" they hired to help them fill out immigration forms or answer other questions.

When the consultants have provided bad advice or not performed the service for which they were hired, some people turn to immigration attorneys. "By then, they've already spent $5,000," Robles said.

Immigration attorney Aaron Tarin said there are at least three businesses down the street from his West Valley City law offices that offer assistance with filling out immigration forms. He said Robles' bill is needed "primarily because so many people are being taken advantage of in this community."

"Not everyone is able to afford our services, although we try to reach out when we can," he said. "That's created a large underground black market of people who try to offer these services. The incidence of fraud is just tremendous."

People who get faulty advice might fill out documents incorrectly or they may attempt to obtain public services for which they do not qualify.

"By the time they get to us, they don't have any money left. The damage has been done. They end up in removal processes or worse, deported," he said.

Some people who provide these services are notary publics, which can be confusing for people from Latin American countries, where a notario publico is a highly sophisticated attorney. In Utah, a notary public can only witness the signing of legal documents.

"They take advantage of the play on words because here; anyone can be a notary," Tarin said. "That's another reason there's got to be some control there."

Denise Arce, owner of Arce & Associates, which provides limited immigration services and translation services, said she believes the bill "is a very good idea."

Arce said she has encountered people who paid "immigration consultants" for work that was not performed.