Latest news with #HB915
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A new Florida law aims to protect immigrants from notary fraud scams
In many Latin American countries, a notary public, or notario público, is a highly trained legal professional and, in many cases, an attorney. With notaries public in the United states, that's not always the case. The similarity in terminology can lead to confusion and open the door to fraud, making immigrants in the United States believe they're dealing with a qualified lawyer. A new law (HB 915) will prohibit Florida notaries without the appropriate law license from misrepresenting their legal experience when advertising their services, and bars them from using terms such as 'immigration specialist', 'notario público' and 'immigration consultant.' The law will take effect July 1 and was sponsored by State Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, and Democratic Reps. Johanna López of Orlando and Marie Paule Woodson of Hollywood. The law also gives victims of fraud a way to seek justice or compensation. The bill received bipartisan support, though Gov. Ron DeSantis did not make any specific mention of it. Florida has made cracking down on illegal immigration one of its priorities, and DeSantis said the state can serve as an example for others in that effort. According to the law, notaries who are not lawyers must clearly display a disclaimer, in both English and any other language used in their materials, outlining the limitations of their role, including that they 'may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice,' and that they cannot represent people in 'immigration matters.' In a statement, Woodson underscored the importance of helping those who are most at risk. 'This bill is about protecting vulnerable communities, about advertisement, misleading advertisement, and unauthorized legal practices,' she said. 'It's about transparency and accountability.' Community advocate Ana Lamb said she receives at least a dozen cases and complaints each month from people who claim to have been victims of fraud by unscrupulous notaries. Lamb, a certified notary public herself, said confusion is especially common among Hispanics. 'A notary is not a lawyer, but people still get confused when they're dealing with immigration problems,' Lamb said. 'In that desperation, people start looking for help and often end up with someone who lies to them and tells them what they want to hear.' Teresita Matos-Post, executive director of the Presbyterian Beth-El Farmworker Ministry in Wimauma, said the recent legislation 'is an important step' in protecting vulnerable communities and immigrants who may not be familiar with how the legal system works in the United States. 'In many Latin American countries, notaries are attorneys with broad legal authority, which can cause confusion and lead to abuse here,' Matos-Post added. Beth-El launched its notary services program last April in response to a growing community need. The organization now has five registered notaries. The program includes educational efforts to help community members clearly understand the role and limitations of a notary public, which helps reduce the risk of fraud. In Tampa, one of the most severe fraud cases was orchestrated by Elvis Harold Reyes of Brandon. Reyes posed as a pastor, notary and immigration attorney. He collected thousands of dollars from more than 200 immigrants by promising to obtain documents such as driver's licenses, work permits and green cards. In 2021, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Elizabeth Gutierrez, a Hispanic community leader and founder of the Wimauma nonprofit Enterprising Latinas, said it makes sense to define the scope of notary services because 'there are too many bad actors.' 'This law will protect people needing professional and experienced legal services,' Gutierrez said.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
An immigrant advocacy group is celebrating this bill DeSantis signed to curb legal services scams
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on May 22, 2025, a proposal prohibiting notaries public from advertising as immigration legal services. (Photo illustration by Getty Images) Amid ongoing raids in Florida immigrant communities, Gov. Ron DeSantis' signed a bill Thursday creating an avenue for relief against people unlawfully providing immigration legal services. HB 915, one of 17 bills DeSantis signed Thursday, prohibits notaries public from advertising their services using language that implies they possess professional legal skills in immigration law. Notaries public are authorized to serve as witnesses and verify signatures on documents such as powers of attorney, deeds, and estates. Thomas Kennedy, a policy analyst with Florida Immigrant Coalition, said in a phone interview that the group sought help from lawmakers in addressing the problem of notaries public providing immigration legal services, which he described as an epidemic in Central and South Florida. He called the signing of the new law good news. 'This is happening all over the place. People are very, very desperate for some sort of solution or adjustment of status that leaves them vulnerable for people that are preying on them,' Kennedy said, pointing to the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in Florida at risk of deportation after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this week allowing the Trump administration to strip the immigrants of temporary protections and work permits. A series of special sessions at the beginning of the year yielded hundreds of millions for local law enforcement to engage in immigration enforcement, plus new laws heightening penalties for immigrants living in the country without authorization. However, during the regular legislative session, lawmakers didn't pass other proposals cracking down on legal aid for immigrant children and companies hiring people unauthorized to work in the country. But nearly all lawmakers agreed to pass the bill from Orlando Democratic Rep. Johanna López, allowing people to recover damages in civil lawsuits from notaries public providing representation in immigration law matters. Further, notaries public won't be able to refer to themselves as 'notario público,' the term in Spanish, because in some Latin American countries 'notarios' can file legal documents, give legal advice, and represent people in court, according to the final legislative analysis of the bill. Still, Kennedy said passing a pro-immigrant law in this climate was no easy feat. 'I guess common sense prevailed in this matter,' he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Immigrants warned to beware of ‘notarios' offering legal services
South Florida legislators are joining advocates to warn immigrants, whether or not they are in the country legally, to watch out for unqualified professionals offering legal services to keep them from being deported. With the current political landscape driving immigrants to law offices throughout the state, some advocates are pointing to a professional title that often gets lost in translation from Spanish to English. In South American countries, a 'notario publico' is a legal professional close in status to a lawyer, able to provide services and charge accordingly. In the U.S., a 'notary public' is someone authorized by the state to verify signatures on legal documents, administer oaths and perform weddings. While the two terms look similar, neither is a translation of the other. That could cause confusion for people who have questions about their legal status, asylum applications and work permits, among other issues. 'Ensuring [immigrants] have access to legitimate legal representation and protection from fraud is not just a moral imperative — it is a matter of public safety and economic stability,' said Florida House Rep. Johanna López, D-Orlando, who filed a bill (HB 915) with Rep. Marie Woodson, D-Hollywood, aiming to keep providers honest about their qualifications. 'Notario fraud remains a persistent problem in Florida,' Woodson said. 'Our proposed legislation seeks to require clearer disclosure requirements for non-attorneys offering immigration-related services.' The senate version of the bill (SB 846) was filed by Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton. 'Due to the high priority this Legislature and Governor has placed on immigration, I hope that our legislation will be a priority,' Polsky said. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@ or 954-356-4457. Follow him on
