Notario Fraud: A Serious Development—and a Much Larger Crisis
In my professional practice, I am acutely aware of noncitizens with strong, legally viable immigration cases who are now facing deportation—not because they were ineligible, but because nonlawyers posing as immigration professionals took their money and filed unsubstantiated or even falsified applications on their behalf. Had these individuals worked with a licensed immigration attorney from the start, many could have entered or remained in the United States legally.
What is especially troubling is that some of these notarios charge more than qualified lawyers.
A common refrain I hear is, “You don’t need a lawyer unless there’s a problem.” Unfortunately, immigration law does not work that way. When an application is denied, it is often already too late to fix the damage. At that point, even the most skilled attorney may be limited in what can be done.
Another frequent claim is, “My friend’s friend got their papers just by doing X.” Let me be very clear: no, they didn’t. In more than 25 years of practicing immigration law, every time someone has said this, I have offered—gladly—to speak with that “friend” to compare cases. In 25 years, not a single person has followed up. What people hear anecdotally is almost never accurate.
This leads to a broader plea, especially to those who are well-intentioned and deeply sympathetic to immigrants: please stop directing people to nonlawyers for immigration advice. Immigration law is not like going to the DMV to obtain a driver’s license. It is a complex legal system with enormous, life-altering consequences—for men, women, and children alike. This message needs to be amplified loudly and consistently within our communities.
A word on language: how does it help if someone “speaks Spanish” but is not authorized to practice law? Many licensed immigration attorneys do speak Spanish. I personally do not, yet clients regularly text me in multiple languages, and I translate them easily using current technology. Language access is an important justice issue, but today it is no longer a valid reason to gamble with someone’s legal future.
Many community groups and faith-based organizations carry out critical, compassionate work to support migrants, and that work is invaluable. At the same time, most are not equipped to provide legal or medical services—and should not try. If your neighbor’s child’s life were at risk, would you insist on seeing a licensed doctor, or would you accept help from someone who “means well”? These are real people, with real lives, and real chances to remain in this country at stake. The most meaningful help we can offer is to walk with migrants to qualified experts, not toward those who claim experts are unnecessary.
If private attorneys are financially out of reach, there are reputable nonprofit legal organizations that can help. These include Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), the National Immigration Law Center, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc., among many others. What makes no sense—ever—is paying an unlicensed, unknown notario instead of a qualified immigration attorney.
We can do better. And doing better starts with ensuring that immigrants receive the right help from the right professionals.
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