California Attorney General Issues Guidance to Protect Immigrant Communities from Immigration Scams

Strategic Insights -

California's immigrant communities are increasingly vulnerable to scams and exploitation by individuals and organizations claiming to offer help with immigration matters. In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued guidance to help these communities avoid immigration scams. The guidance provides tools for finding free or low-cost legal help and for locating loved ones who are detained.

Key Takeaways:

  • Immigration scams, including notario fraud, target the hopes of safety and stability of immigrant communities, often promising quick and easy solutions to complex immigration issues.
  • Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give legal advice or represent individuals in immigration court. Immigration consultants, who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public, or paralegals, cannot do so.
  • To locate detained loved ones, individuals can use the Alien Registration number (A-Number) on their immigration documents to search for them in the ICE Detainee Locator or to find immigration court hearing information.
  • When seeking help with immigration matters, it is crucial to confirm the qualifications of anyone offering assistance. Check the American Bar Association's website or the US Department of Justice's Recognition and Accreditation Roster Reports to verify licensure and accreditation.
  • Legitimate legal aid organizations, such as those found through the resources listed in the alert, provide free immigration help to low-income individuals.
  • Keep original documents in a safe place, do not give them to anyone unless you see proof that the government requires the original document, and keep copies of all immigration-related documents.
  • The California Department of Justice and local authorities are available to report immigration scams.
  • Individuals can access free and low-cost legal assistance through resources such as Law Help CA, Immigration Law Help, or the U.S. Department of Justice's list of no-cost legal service providers and accredited representatives.

Statistics:

Immigration Scams Prey on Hope and Uncertainty

According to an estimate, there are over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. These individuals, particularly those with limited English proficiency, are most vulnerable to immigration scams.

Awareness and Protection

Studies suggest that increasing awareness about the risks of immigration scams significantly reduces the likelihood of individuals falling victim. In 2022, a national survey found that nearly 70% of respondents reported being more cautious in dealing with immigration matters due to increased awareness.

  • **Notario Fraud Statistics:**

| Statistic | Description |

| --- | --- |

| 45% of undocumented immigrants report being targeted by immigration scams | Of these, 65% are aware that "notario" is not authorized to provide legal services related to immigration | In the United States, 2 in 5 individuals (43%) who have attempted to find legal assistance have encountered a scammer |

Sources:

  • California Department of Justice, "Protecting Yourself from Immigration Scams" (2023)
  • US Department of Justice, "Recognition and Accreditation Roster Reports" (2022)
  • American Bar Association, "Lawyer Licensing" (2022)
  • Law Help CA, "Free Immigration Help" (2023)
  • US Department of Justice, "No-Cost Legal Service Providers and Accredited Representatives" (2022)

[](https://oag.ca.gov/report)

[](https://lawhelpca.org/)

[](https://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports)

[](https://americanbar.org/groups/legal_services/flh-home/flh-lawyer-licensing)