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Q&A
Challenges in converting complaints to OATH cases for immigration services fraud
0:51:31
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Michael Tiger, General Counsel for the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), explains the challenges in converting complaints about immigration services fraud into cases at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
- The number of complaints has increased from 2022 to 2024, but OATH cases have not correspondingly increased
- Many complaints lack sufficient information for further action
- Some businesses operate as 'fly-by-night' operations, making it difficult to serve summonses
- These challenges affect the number of summonses filed from year to year
Council Member Menin suggests collaborating with sister agencies like the Department of Education and Human Resources Administration for more robust outreach and advertising campaigns.
Julie Menin
0:51:31
A question about Oath.
0:51:33
So I know the number of complaints regarding immigration service providers has increased from 2022 to 2023 and 2024, but the number of cases at Oath has not increased.
0:51:45
There were just four such cases in 2023 and 2024 combined.
0:51:50
What accounts for that difference?
Michael Tiger
0:51:59
Thank you chair.
0:52:00
I mean the number of complaints that you're seeing in that data set that reflects any complaint with any amount of information that's come into the portal, Unfortunately, often we see that there is threadbare information.
0:52:16
That's why we want to sort of continue to build trust so we continue to have ongoing conversations.
0:52:20
But it is a challenge that we face that sometimes the complaints come in through the portal or through three eleven without sufficient information.
0:52:29
Or, again, another one of the systemic challenges that we and other regulators face is the fly by night operations of many of these businesses.
0:52:40
And so sometimes we'll begin an investigation and then by the time a lawyer is engaging and drafting a summons, there's no one to serve anymore.
0:52:48
And that's a real challenge, it's not just us.
0:52:50
But from year to year that can affect the number of summonses we actually file.
Julie Menin
0:53:00
Okay, I have more questions, but I now want to turn it over to my colleagues.
0:53:04
I know Council Member Hanif was gonna make an opening statement, I believe.