SWINDLES TARGET IMMIGRANTS IN WAKE OF BUSH PROPOSAL.Byline: LISA The first personal computer to include integrated software and use a graphical interface. Modeled after the Xerox Star and introduced in 1983 by Apple, it was ahead of its time, but never caught on due to its $10,000 price and slow speed. FRIEDMAN Washington bureau Days after President George W. Bush's 2004 speech urging Congress to create a temporary worker program for illegal immigrants illegal immigrant n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa. (See: alien) , enforcement officials noticed suspicious advertisements popping up in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. and other immigrant-rich cities. ``Green cards available!'' screamed fliers slapped onto telephone poles and bulletin boards of local churches. For just a few thousand dollars application fee, the ads promised, an undocumented immigrant could seek legal status -- all under Bush's ``new law.'' There was, of course, no new law. There still isn't. But with debate in Congress over various immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. proposals still raging, and protesters continuing to rally for amnesty, enforcement officials and advocates say they are bracing for a new round of swindles. ``Any time people are discussing anything about immigration, the scams come up,'' said Marie Sebrechts, California spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Recently, the USCIS USCIS US Citizenship and Immigration Services advised employees to remind immigrant clients that there currently is no such thing as a temporary worker program and to beware of anyone claiming they can help apply for or receive benefits from such a program. Officials said they have not documented a recent upsurge in reported scams. But those who work directly with immigrants say they see the beginnings of a wave. ``It's hard to overstate how vulnerable these people are,'' said Marshall Fitz, director of advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. lisa.friedman@dailynews.com (202) 626-8731. |
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