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Q&A
Clarification on bad actors in immigration services
2:07:28
·
140 sec
Council Member Alexa Avilés seeks clarification from Hildalyn Colon about the presence of bad actors in both for-profit and non-profit immigration service providers. Colon explains the need for standards and accreditation in the field.
- Colon emphasizes the importance of DOJ accreditation for non-profit organizations providing immigration services.
- She highlights the need for guidance from immigration attorneys and proper licensing.
- Colon suggests the need for registration of all immigration service providers in New York City to better regulate the field.
Alexa Avilés
2:07:28
I just wanna make sure just for clarity, you're suggesting that there's bad actors both in the for profit space and the nonprofit space that need I would assume they're all held to the same standard.
2:07:46
There are legal ways
Hildalyn Colon
2:07:48
Well, I think requirements.
Alexa Avilés
2:07:50
I just wanna make sure I'm understanding what you're saying.
Hildalyn Colon
2:07:52
Well, I think there is an issue.
2:07:53
Right?
2:07:54
Immigration law is a federal issue.
2:07:57
Right?
2:07:57
And in order to provide organizations like us and others, especially nonprofits, the goal here is that we become DOJ accredited.
2:08:07
This is how a person that and I'm gonna use an example.
2:08:10
As a coordinator, right, we need the guidance of an immigration attorney to provide legal advice.
2:08:16
In the pathway, what we're trying to do is funding organization like us to to address that path because that's how you take some of the bad actors of the nonprofits to operate in this wiggle room.
2:08:28
I'm helping, but I'm providing immigration services, but I'm doing this.
2:08:33
I think that's one of the things that all nonprofits that wants to get into this field as a level basic, we need to get to DOJ accredited because that's kinda like having a license.
2:08:44
The other thing that we haven't discussed but that I will recommend from my experience, you we need to get all these people that are providing in New York City immigration services registered.
2:08:53
Right now, DCWP cannot ask you.
2:08:56
You can't even answer how many are out there because they have something to lose and they did the same approach with the employment agencies.
2:09:04
They forced them to register.
2:09:06
They need to cost them.
2:09:07
We need to get them out there because I will tell you, I we provide services in the epicenter of fraud land.
2:09:14
Jackson Heights, Roosevelt Avenue, my god, you can see anything that you can think of.
2:09:19
And the thing is that if you don't force them to come out and there's some kind of registration, like, it's it's not gonna happen.
2:09:27
So we need to figure out a way how do we deal with the bad actors.
2:09:31
The lawyers have the bar to basically to deal with them.
2:09:35
But then there's organization nonprofits that right now they're in limbo.
2:09:39
And and it's a misguidance because we're here to help you.
2:09:42
This is where the wiggle room starts to unfold.
2:09:46
Don't know if that answered your question.
Alexa Avilés
2:09:48
Yeah.