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Q&A
Recent trends in immigration services fraud complaints
0:39:42
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99 sec
Council Member Alexa Avilés inquires about any changes or trends in immigration services fraud complaints since the recent presidential election. DCWP representatives provide insights on current complaint patterns and their recent outreach efforts.
- DCWP reports no significant uptick in immigration services fraud complaints in 2023
- The agency has received 48 complaints regarding employment agencies, some of which may be related to immigration services
- DCWP conducted a recent day of action at 10 locations across the city to distribute information and engage with communities
- The agency distributed materials in 10-11 languages during their outreach efforts
- DCWP expresses support for Introduction 205 and Introduction 980, which aim to enhance outreach and increase penalties for illegal activities
Alexa Avilés
0:39:42
So in terms of just really quickly and I'll pass it over to my co chair here, have there been any types of changes and or frequency of immigration service fraud since the November presidential election or inauguration, have you seen any changes?
Vilda Vera Mayuga
0:40:02
I think we've only received a complaint so far this year in 2025, so we haven't seen an uptick, at least not yet.
0:40:12
We have received 48 this year regarding employment agencies that sometimes we've seen them trying to offer their services under the guise of trying to find somebody a job.
0:40:22
We'll continue to obviously monitor.
0:40:24
And it's one of the things that as complaints come in and we get the word out, anecdotally what we hear we can see what trends, but so far it has not been a big jump on complaints.
Alexa Avilés
0:40:34
Got it.
0:40:34
Got it.
Carlos Ortiz
0:40:34
Thank I would say on the day of action that we held, I think it was last week at 10 locations across the city, We people in the streets, our folks in the community, they were definitely receptive and wanted to talk with our with our volunteers about this issue.
0:40:51
Immigration service providers in particular, we are able to distribute information ten, eleven languages.
0:40:58
So within that context, I think there was definitely there was definitely questions to the community.
0:41:03
And I think, against the commissioner's point, why we are supportive of of intro two zero five, albeit it would require new resources, why intro nine eighty two is a good approach as well to addressing higher penalties for illegal activity.
0:41:17
So, yeah, definitely anecdotally, I could say it was it was definitely some good feedback from the community.