Criminals impersonate Catholic institutions in a scam targeting immigrants in the U.S. - ACI Prensa
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that individuals have impersonated Catholic institutions to target immigrants in the U.S., offering immigration help in exchange for money.
- The schemes allegedly promise fast green cards, work authorization, or legal filings — services only licensed attorneys or DOJ‑accredited representatives can lawfully provide.
- Victims risk losing money, missing filing deadlines, or receiving fraudulent documents that can worsen their immigration cases.
- Immigrants should verify service providers with dioceses, Catholic Charities, DOJ’s accreditation list, or USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and report fraud to authorities.
What happened
It has been reported that scammers are posing as Catholic charities, parishes, or other faith‑based organizations to offer immigration assistance to Spanish‑speaking and other immigrant communities across the United States. These schemes allegedly involve in‑person approaches, phone calls, or ads promising fast relief — such as green cards, work permits, or asylum help — in exchange for upfront fees. Because many immigrants place trust in religious institutions, fraudsters exploit that trust to extract money and sensitive documents.
Why it matters
Immigration legal work is regulated. Only licensed attorneys or recognized, accredited representatives (those approved through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Access Programs) may represent immigrants before immigration agencies and courts. If someone pays an unqualified actor, they risk losing funds and may miss critical filing deadlines, receive faulty or fraudulent paperwork, or be exposed to identity theft. That can lead to denial of applications or even negative consequences in removal (deportation) proceedings. USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has resources and scam alerts to help people verify legitimate providers.
What to do now
If you or someone you know was contacted by a group claiming to be a church or Catholic charity, verify the organization directly with the local parish or with national Catholic Charities offices before paying or sharing documents. Ask for the provider’s bar number or DOJ accreditation, and check those against official DOJ and state bar registries. Never pay in cash or by untraceable wire for legal services, and ask for a written contract and receipts. Report suspected fraud to local law enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and to USCIS’s tip lines. For legal help, seek a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ‑accredited representative; many community legal aid groups offer low‑cost or pro bono help for vulnerable applicants.
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