QUESTION
How is the city protecting new arrivals from legal service fraud?
3:18:26
·
3 min
The city is actively combating legal service fraud targeting new arrivals by collaborating with the Department of Consumer Worker Protections (DCWP) and establishing a hotline for outreach and information.
- A primary concern highlighted by the Ecuadorian community is the misinformation spread as discussions about Temporary Protected Status (TPS) emerge.
- The Mayor's Office for Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) partners with DCWP to oversee programs that fight against immigration and legal services fraud.
- MOIA utilizes outreach staff to educate communities and has set up a hotline for those who cannot access information through other means.
- Commissioner Manuel Castro indicates that combating fraud is crucial due to the vulnerability of these communities to exploitation by fraudulent actors.
Alexa Avilés
3:18:26
What is the what is the city doing to protect new arrivals against legal service fraud?
Manuel Castro
3:18:34
This is actually one one of the most important questions.
3:18:37
In fact, most recently raised by the Ecuadorian community, we've seen a large amount of misinformation in their communities as talk about potential TPS starts to ramp up.
3:18:52
We partner with DCWP, the department of consumer worker protections, who manages overseas the program.
3:19:01
That the fights against immigration and legal services fraud.
3:19:04
We, however, do utilize our outreach staff to make sure that our communities are educated.
3:19:12
And this is for this reason we set up this hotline so that folks can have if they cannot access other information through through through 1, information through our hotline.
3:19:23
And I I think this is this is going to be one of the biggest efforts we undertake because, again, there are many bad actors trying to take advantage of.
3:19:34
These vulnerable communities.
Alexa Avilés
3:19:36
It's been a long standing problem in our communities, so many bad actors.
3:19:43
Thank you.
3:19:45
I think with that, I would like to thank the administration.
3:19:48
Thank you all for bearing with us to these questions.
3:19:50
And obviously, thank all the staff for their work on the ground.
3:19:56
And I know these conversations are tough, but we have to oldest standard of excellence.
3:20:03
And on, you know, what we see often is what is playing on the ground doesn't necessarily reflect what is what we're talking about and how we're characterizing the situation equation, so it's important to bring transparency and accountability and hold each other to the highest standard of past a little to make sure that we have dignity for all New Yorkers, whether you hear 5 minutes or I said 30 decades in another hearing, which absurd.
3:20:33
I don't know anyone that old or a long time.
3:20:36
So I just I wanna thank you for that.
3:20:38
We'll continue.
3:20:39
Obviously, there's a lot to follow-up on many questions I would not answer it here.
3:20:44
We will be following up to get those responses.
3:20:48
I would have loved to see Moya say we need a $150,000,000 for legal service provider, provision, including the request for additional money for adult literacy.
3:21:07
And baselining of those monies.
3:21:09
But last year, negotiating with OMB, so we'll continue to have these conversations.
3:21:14
So thank you.
3:21:16
For your time.
Manuel Castro
3:21:17
Trevor, Liz, thank you so much for your questions.
3:21:20
My staff is will be working closely with your staff.
3:21:23
To answer those questions, also thank you to the committee.
3:21:26
Staff.
3:21:26
I I did wanna well, again, shout out, Moria staff, Owasso staff, all the city employees and our partners working in this response.
3:21:35
I also wanna shout out everyone that will be testifying today.
3:21:39
Not long ago, I was here testifying as an advocate.
3:21:43
Certainly pushing for resources.
3:21:46
I know that my staff will be watching, paying close attention, taking notes, about everything that people will be sharing today.
3:21:54
Thank you so much.
Alexa Avilés
3:21:55
Thank you.