Juzgué el podcast de Gavin Newsom antes de escucharlo. Entonces me di cuenta de que yo era parte del problema.
El nuevo podcast del gobernador de California, donde se distanciaba de los demócratas en el tema de los derechos de las personas trans, desató una polémica mediática y generó diversas opiniones entre los californianos.   Cuando vi los titulares s...
It’s costing California more than expected to provide immigrant health care. Is coverage at risk?
California is spending more than it expected on Medi-Cal and Republican lawmakers are pointing to coverage expansions that benefited immigrant households.   The California health care program that covers almost 15 million people is costing more m...
I judged Gavin Newsom’s podcast before listening. Then I realized I was part of the problem
The California governor’s new podcast, where he broke with Democrats on trans rights, triggered a media firestorm and evoked a variety of opinions from Californians.   When I saw the headlines about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new podcast, “This is Gavi...
Dar atención médica a inmigrantes le está costando a California más de lo previsto. ¿Está en riesgo la cobertura?
California está gastando más de lo esperado en Medi-Cal y los legisladores republicanos están señalando expansiones de cobertura que beneficiaron a los hogares inmigrantes.   El programa de atención médica de California, que cubre a casi 15 millo...
Perspectivas y Experiencias de los Latinos sobre el Idioma Español
Si bien la mayoría de los latinos en EE.UU. hablan español, no todos lo hacen. El 24 por ciento de todos los adultos latinos dicen que solo pueden mantener un poco o nada una conversación en español.   Más de la mitad de los latinos en EE.UU. que...

Immigration consultants sued for cheating families

Information
08 February 2010 elena Print Email

 

OAKLAND, CA – Oakland City Attorney John Russo announced a lawsuit January 28th. against an “outlaw company that has swindled thousands of dollars from multiple Oakland families.”

The lawsuit filed last Thursday by the City Attorney’s Neighborhood Law Corps seeks to stop a local company called American Legal Services from defrauding families who are seeking legal residency in the country.

American Legal Services holds itself out as a law office, although none of its employees are attorneys, according to the announcement from Russo’s office. Evidence shows that the company has repeatedly defrauded Oakland families by making false promises of citizenship and charging exorbitant fees up front. Once they have their victims’ money, the outfit routinely acts against the interests of those seeking help by giving false legal advice and botching immigration applications – in some cases resulting in deportation proceedings.

“This company is acting as an outright menace to the Oakland families who come to them seeking help,” City Attorney Russo said. “They have tricked people by pretending to be lawyers, making false promises and charging thousands of dollars up front – in some cases, the life savings of the victims. With this lawsuit, we intend to prevent them from breaking the law and force them to pay back the families they have swindled.”

The lawsuit seeks restitution and damages of at least $150,000 for a group of six victims and civil penalties of at least $8.2 million for violations of the state Immigration Consultants Act and the California Penal Code.

Based on evidence gathered by the City Attorney’s Office, victims of this type of scam in Oakland could number in the hundreds.

Russo also announced an upcoming immigration workshop that will include private consultations with immigration attorneys and training on how to avoid fraud – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, February 27 at Oakland City Hall.