INS Warns Against Fraud to Get Amnesty

Federal immigration officials said Friday that they are committed to facilitating amnesty applications for all eligible illegal aliens, but they warned that those using fraud to benefit under the new immigration law will be subject to criminal charges.

“This is a legitimate effort to legalize everyone who has a legitimate claim,” Howard Ezell, western regional commissioner for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, said at a conference in San Diego.

Nationwide, Ezell said, the INS estimates that almost 4 million illegal aliens may qualify for some form of amnesty, as the legalization provisions of the new law are known.

But, added James Turnage, district director in San Diego: “We will vigorously prosecute those involved in fraud.”

Experts have predicted that the new law may result in a boom in the manufacture of fraudulent documents. Such documents would be used by both amnesty applicants seeking to demonstrate their residence in the United States and by illegal aliens seeking to circumvent the so-called employer sanctions portion of the bill, which provides civil and criminal penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers.

INS officials are in the midst of a massive public information campaign designed to get the word out about the new law. The San Diego conference, attended by about 100 people, was the third such event, following similar sessions in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The campaign, it is hoped, will help alleviate the widespread confusion in the illegal alien community since passage of the new law. Some critics have questioned the INS’s ability to adequately administer the amnesty program, predicting that many deserving applicants will be excluded because of fear of the INS or the agency’s conservative interpretation of the law.

“I don’t think amnesty is going to be a boom in this community,” said Herman Baca, chairman of the Committee on Chicano Rights.

Under the new law, illegal aliens who can demonstrate that they have lived continuously in the United States since Jan. 1, 1982, may be eligible for amnesty. In addition, farm laborers who have worked for at least 90 days in agriculture in a recent 12-month period may also be eligible.

The INS will begin taking amnesty applications on May 5. Applicants must submit documents such as rent receipts, income tax returns and pay stubs to demonstrate their presence in the United States, and officials urged them to begin collecting that material now.

The law gives most applicants one year to submit their applications. However, illegal aliens who are already in deportation proceedings will have only 30 days after May 5 to make their cases.

“We hope we can avoid a big backlog,” Ezell said.

In May, the INS plans to open legalization centers nationwide. There are plans for two in San Diego County and one in Imperial County. In addition, nonprofit agencies certified by INS will be opening offices to assist aliens seeking amnesty.