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Q&A
Council Member Menin questions DCWP on referrals to MOIA and fraud victim follow-up
1:28:32
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135 sec
Council Member Julie Menin questions Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga and Assistant Commissioner Carlos Ortiz from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) about referrals to the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) and follow-up procedures for fraud victims. The discussion highlights concerns about the lack of information on outcomes due to MOIA's absence from the hearing.
- DCWP agrees to provide information on outcomes of referrals to MOIA
- DCWP explains their communication process with fraud victims during investigations
- Assistant Commissioner Ortiz reports receiving about four fraud cases from MOIA in the current and previous calendar years
Julie Menin
1:28:32
Couple more questions and then I'm gonna turn it back over to a couple colleagues who have questions.
1:28:37
Earlier when you were answering a question by Chair Aviles' Commissioner, you mentioned that you're directing people to Moya.
1:28:46
Since Moya refuses to be here, how do we know what those outcomes are of those referrals?
Vilda Vera Mayuga
1:28:59
We can certainly get those outcomes and bring them back to you and share them with you.
1:29:04
Is it specific about people who reach out and get referrals?
Julie Menin
1:29:07
Yeah, because if you're referring people directly to Moya, we don't then know what the outcome is.
1:29:12
We don't know if people are having their issues answered.
1:29:16
We don't know how the agency is responding.
1:29:18
It's like we're dealing with a black box because they're refusing to be here today.
1:29:22
So it I mean, it's it's pretty insane that we now have to rely on you to get an answer from Moya, but that is what it is.
1:29:31
Are you following up with victims of fraud?
1:29:35
Like, what's the agency follow-up?
1:29:38
So if someone has been victimized by an immigration service provider, then what type of follow-up are you having directly with the victims?
Vilda Vera Mayuga
1:29:49
Well we certainly do a lot of communication with them in terms of questions that we may have to assess the case and how far we can take the investigation to make sure that we get the information that we feel is necessary to move the investigation forward.
1:30:07
And of course making sure that then they are receiving the services that they need from a legitimate source.
1:30:15
And in the past few fiscal years,
Julie Menin
1:30:18
how many cases of fraud does DCWP receive from Moya?
Carlos Ortiz
1:30:26
I don't think we have for the past few fiscal years.
1:30:29
I know in my communications with Moya that I've received Moya and Owasso this year at least four.
1:30:34
Last year I think a similar number as well.
Julie Menin
1:30:40
Okay.
Carlos Ortiz
1:30:41
Those are calendar years.
1:30:42
I'm sorry.
Julie Menin
1:30:42
Okay.
1:30:42
Thank you.
1:30:43
I understand councilmember Joseph has some questions.