Immigration news sure to bring out scammers
Albor Ruiz - Ny Local
NY Daily News
Wednesday, August 24th 2011, 4:00 AM


Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is one anti-immigration advocate who has called President Obama's new program is "backdoor amnesty."

This is a public service column to warn undocumented immigrants against unscrupulous individuals promising to legalize their situation through President Obama's new deportation guidelines.

Because even though the rabid anti-immigration crowd is up in arms against the guidelines, they are as far from being a "backdoor amnesty," as, say, Michelle Bachmann is from sanity. These people see "amnesty" behind every bush or pretend to in order to stoke irrational fears about immigrants.

"This plan amounts to backdoor amnesty for hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of illegal aliens," said Arizona's Gov. Jan Brewer, not the brightest dweller of the murky anti-immigration swamp.

The truth, though, is very different. Far from what Brewer and her ilk proclaim it to be, the new regulations are an attempt to use government resources efficiently in the application of existing laws.

In other words, it doesn't make sense to use limited resources to deport housewives, gardeners and busboys who pose no danger to society instead of focusing on the criminals that represent a real threat.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association makes it very clear: "The Obama administration announcement is NOT an amnesty, it is NOT about granting legal status, and is NOT something that you can sign up for. This is a temporary decision not to use limited government resources to deport low priority individuals." Period.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the agency will make a case-by-case review of the estimated 300,000 unauthorized immigrants currently facing deportation. It is important to understand there is no change in programs such as the infamous Secure Communities and 287g.

Out of concern for immigrants becoming easy prey for scammers, the AILA has issued a consumer advisory.

They warn that, at this time no one can sign any undocumented immigrant up for a work permit or get them legal status based on the Aug. 18 White House announcement. Whoever promises to legalize anybody's immigration situation doesn't know what they are taking about or, worse, is trying to make a fast buck.

Desperate immigrants considering turning themselves in to immigration authorities as a way of being placed in a deportation procedure and obtaining a work permit would be making a terrible mistake. At this point DHS has not issued clear guidelines as to what cases will be considered "low priority" or "high priority."

"Any person who comes into contact with immigration authorities may be arrested, detained or even removed," the AILA warns.

Melissa Crow, director of the Legal Action Center at the American Immigration Council notes the DHS is clear that the new guidelines impact only individuals who are currently in removal proceedings. "Thus, 'Dream' students and others unlawfully present in the U.S., but not in removal proceedings should not actively seek out the immigration authorities. Since there are no guarantees that an individual removal case will be administratively closed, anyone who seeks to be placed in removal proceedings could end up being deported."

Something we do know for sure is that scams will be plentiful, and immigrants should only seek legal advice from a qualified immigration lawyer or an established community or religious group who can evaluate their cases and tell them about their rights.

AILA's consumer advisory can be found in English and Spanish at http://aila.org/content/default.aspx? docid=36705.

aruiz@nydailynews.com

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