Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo
announced today the passage of legislation to implement the Immigrant
Assistance Service Enforcement Act (A.4887A).
·
The
bill would require organizations assisting immigrants to register with and be
certified by the Department of State.
·
This
bill would increase civil penalty from not more than $7,000 to not more than
$10,000 dollars, for violations of this article.
·
No
immigration service shall be provided unless such provider is registered with
the Department of State.
“For many immigrants, naturalization in the
United States is a lifelong dream. However, the process can be arduous,”
said Silver. “Immigration assistance is an essential resource. We must
ensure that those on this path have access to competent, skilled service
providers who can help navigate this complicated process,” said Speaker
Silver.
“Acclimating to a new environment is extremely
challenging. And individuals trying to follow the precise application process
for citizenship face added pressures. The Immigrant Assistance Service
Enforcement Act will protect those seeking citizenship from unnecessary
missteps in the application process by guaranteeing the qualifications of
providers,” said Crespo.
The application process for citizenship is complex.
Serious consequences can occur if related laws, rules and procedures are not
followed. As a result of this legislation, individuals seeking assistance can
be certain that the assistance they receive is from a qualified provider.
This is being sponsored in the State Senate by Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. and is Senate bill S-94-8 which is currently in committee.
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