Those who have been perpetrating scams and frauds in immigration processes in the United States of America will now face stricter penalties, especially for reasons of defrauding people who are seeking legal assistance with immigration matters. The New York State’s Immigration Assistance Service Enforcement Act, which went into effect on 2nd February, Monday is a covenant for establishing new protections and rights for all those immigrants and immigrant applications who use the services of either individuals or businesses, who falsely represent themselves as qualified advisors or legal experts for those who are just setting foot in the United States, and even those who advise people with citizenship issues fraudulently or with a purpose to cheat. The law punishes individuals or businesses  who help people seeking assistance for more than $1000 fraudulently.

This law is a result of the effort by immigration reform advocates so that it can protect immigrants and ensure that they do not fall prey to illegal immigration advice. These people are called “Notarios”; these people are not permitted to give legal advice, neither can they represent any cases in the Courts of Law.

What is unique about this law in New York is that it is the only law in the country that helps to establish the State Office of New York Americans. All 50 states and several U S territories  do have some protection law against fraud in immigration, but this law establishes permanently the State Office, making it a unique Act.

Notarios can no longer deceive innocent immigrant applicants in the State of New York.