Migrant Surge and Policy Changes Have Resulted in Record Number of Immigration Fraud Complaints in NYC

New York City has seen a surge in consumer complaints regarding immigration services over the past two years, coinciding with a significant influx of migrants, with gripes ranging from fraudulent services to incomplete work and misrepresentation by immigration service providers.

Although no single source compiles data on complaints, the Office of New Americans (ONA) immigration hotline has said it experienced a significant rise in complaints, from 21 in 2023 to 58 in 2024, as Gothamist reports.

Additionally, the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection recorded 39 complaints about immigration service providers this year, a historic high. Complaints involve misleading advertisements, incomplete services, lack of refunds, and missing paperwork, according to an agency spokesperson.

Experts attribute the increase in complaints to the influx of over 220,000 migrants to New York since 2022, the prevalence of online scams, and evolving immigration policies. "Unfortunately, in the immigration industry, it's all too common to see unethical practices arise with new policy changes," explains immigration lawyer Alfredo Lozano to The Latin Times.

"About 10% of my practice is dedicated to 'fixing' mistakes made by notarios, which frequently result in clients facing deportation hearings or other significant immigration issues that could have been avoided with proper guidance," added Lozano.

The situation is fertile ground for fraud schemes as access to competent legal representation is critical for noncitizens and studies show that immigrants with legal counsel are significantly more likely to succeed in court and avoid deportation.

"It's easier to prey on immigrants who are concerned about the prospects of remaining in the U.S. by advising them to file the petitions that enable prolonged stay in the U.S., such as asylum application or VAWA (Violence Against Women Act), i.e. assisting people in falsifying fear of persecution or domestic abuse," said Natalia Polukhtin, immigration attorney at Global Practice, to The Latin Times.

Fraudulent activities have also adapted to digital platforms, including scams on social media and encrypted messaging apps. One common scam reported by Gothamist is called the "10-year green card" ruse, which falsely promises residency to those who have lived in the U.S. for a decade, when in reality the bar to get a green card is much higher.

Efforts to combat fraud include the ONA hotline at 800-566-7636 or contacting the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection through 311 or the agency's website. Additional recommendations for verifying legal service providers are available on the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs website.