Friday, November 30, 2012
Two Springdale businesses are accused of offering to process immigration applications for permanent residency under a federal law that doesn’t exist.
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel sued GYS Investments and Sonia Urrutia, doing business as Sonia’s Tax Service, on Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court.
Deceptive Trade Practice
An activity in which an individual or business engages to mislead the public into purchasing a product or service. Examples include false advertising and odometer tampering.
Source: uslegal.com
The businesses falsely offer to help immigrants with processing applications under the nonexistent Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, also known as the DREAM Act, according to the lawsuit.
The act has been proposed several times over the years but was never enacted by Congress. The act was aimed at offering permanent residency for undocumented immigrants who entered the country as children.
“The defendants in these cases are offering help where none can legally exist,” McDaniel said in a news release. “Through their deceptive actions, these businesses could actually make matters much worse for young people seeking to obtain permanent residency status.”
Employees at Sonia’s Tax Service and GYS Investments said Thursday they were unaware a lawsuit had been filed and had no comment.
President Barack Obama this year signed an executive order, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, that ‘s similar to DREAM Act proposals but it doesn’t provide a path to permanent residency, according to the lawsuits. That order only removes the threat of deportation for two years and offers the opportunity to apply for work legally.
The lawsuits contend the actions of GYS investments and Sonia’s Tax Services are deceitful, at best. They could, at worst, lead to deportation or criminal charges against those seeking the promised help.
McDaniel is seeking an injunction to prohibit both businesses from advertising, providing or charging for immigration services in Arkansas and civil penalties and restitution for affected customers. Violations of the deceptive trade practices act can be assessed a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.
The lawsuits are brought under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. McDaniel contends the ads are directed at people who are particularly vulnerable because of youth and language barriers.
According to the news release, the federal government recommends anyone seeking immigration assistance should seek help only from those qualified, such as a lawyer or someone accredited by the federal Board of Immigration Appeals.