Testimony Calling for Adequate Resources to Prevent the Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law

SUMMARY

The Immigration & Nationality Law Committee (Farrin Anello, Chair) provided testimony for the New York City Council’s Primary Budget Hearing on Consumer Affairs, urging the Council to provide adequate funding to the Department of Consumer Affairs (“DCA”) to help combat the unauthorized practice of immigration law. The Committee supports legislation currently pending in the Council which would help prevent the unauthorized practice of immigration law. Filing a non-meritorious or error-filled immigration application places an undocumented New Yorker at serious risk of deportation by bringing him or her to the attention of the Department of Homeland Security without the benefit of having properly vetted his or her immigration status and options. This proposed law can only be effective at combating fraud against immigrants if DCA and other City agencies tasked with enforcing the law have proper funding to do so. The Committee called on the Council to provide additional funding for DCA agents to focus on “immigration assistance services providers” and issue fines against those who do not comply with the law.  

HEARING INFORMATION

T2017-5560 – Preliminary Budget Hearing: Consumer Affairs
Committee on Consumer Affairs
March 6, 2017