Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1123
Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Justice
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2015

 
 Amends the federal criminal code to subject a person to fine, imprisonment, or both, who: (1) knowingly or recklessly executes a scheme in connection with any federal immigration law-related matter to defraud a person, or to obtain money or anything else of value from a person by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises; or (2) knowingly and falsely represents that such person is an attorney or an accredited representative in any federal immigration law-related matter. 
 
Directs the Attorney General (DOJ) and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), to promulgate regulations, forms, and procedures defining the circumstances in which: (1) persons submitting immigration-related applications, petitions, motions, or other written materials must identify who (other than immediate family members) assisted them in preparing or translating such submissions; and (2) any person who received compensation (other than a normal fee for copying, mailing, or similar services) in connection with the preparation or submission of such materials must sign the form as a preparer and provide identifying information. 
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil injunction against an immigration service provider engaging in fraudulent conduct that substantially interferes with the administration of the immigration laws or who willfully misrepresents such provider's legal authority to provide representation before DOJ or DHS.
 
Authorizes an alien to withdraw an immigration-related application or other submission if the alien: (1) submits information indicating that the application or submission was prepared or submitted by an individual engaged in the unauthorized practice of law or immigration practitioner fraud, and (2) attests that he or she had no prior knowledge that the application or submission was prepared or submitted by such an individual. 
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive the bar on reentry for an alien who left the United States based on the erroneous advice of an individual engaged in the unauthorized practice of law or immigration practitioner fraud.
 
Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General, through the Director of the Office for Immigration Review, to carry out an outreach program to educate aliens regarding who may provide legal services and representation in immigration proceedings. 
 
Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to establish, within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Executive Office for Immigration Review, programs to award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for direct legal services to aliens.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in House