New York Attorney General Letitia James recently announced that she has filed a lawsuit against an immigration lawyer in the Bronx and others in his office for scamming vulnerable immigrants.
The statement from the attorney general’s office stated that Kofi Amankwaa allegedly tricked people into paying thousands for fraudulent services, leading to deportation or denial of their green card applications.
This action is part of James’ commitment to protect immigrants and vulnerable New Yorkers from fraud and intimidation.
The lawsuit sends a strong message that scams targeting residents will not be tolerated. While James’ efforts reflect her dedication to upholding the law and protecting the rights of individuals, particularly those most vulnerable, there is a long way to go.
Immigration fraud by lawyers and consultants is an issue of growing concern, with scams targeting vulnerable immigrants. While only lawyers are authorized to practice immigration law, some consultants, also known as notarios, and fraudulent attorneys engage in illegal activities, such as providing incorrect advice, charging large sums for unperformed work, and filing improper paperwork with immigration authorities.
As the lawsuit from New York highlights, the consequences of such fraud can be severe for the families seeking immigration help — including deportation and family separation.
In a recent case, the CEO of an immigration services company and an immigration attorney were convicted of conspiring to commit immigration fraud in New York. But this fraud keeps happening because a lot of money can be made in the legal and illegal immigration business.
So, while the motives behind James’ current suit should be applauded, critics will argue that this is only a drop in the bucket and won’t necessarily deter others. The penalties have to hit so hard and wide that it becomes a truly binary choice: do the right thing or be put out of business for doing the wrong thing. This simply hasn’t been the case when it comes to legal authorities dealing with this type of immigration scam and the predators behind the schemes.
While it is essential for immigrants to seek trusted support from reputable immigration attorneys or legal service providers to avoid falling victim to fraud, it is easy for someone entirely unfamiliar with the process to fall into the wrong hands.
