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Ice on Immigration: Beware of unscrupulous offer of aid
By L. Patricia Ice, Featured
Columnist
Editor’s note: While this case is unique to
Mississippi, aspects of it are applicable throughout the U.S.
Question: I am an
undocumented immigrant who recently visited a Notary Public who said she
could help me recover unpaid wages from my previous employer. This
Notary Public made me sign several documents that I did not understand,
and asked me for 10% of any recovered wages. I became upset, however,
when she asked me to sign a document allowing that any check for
recovered wages be issued in her name because I am undocumented. I have
a bank account, and I am able to cash checks in my name at a local
“tienda” (store). Is this normal practice for a Notary Public? If not,
is there anything I can do about it?
Answer: In my opinion, it is
not normal practice for a Notary Public to help seek back wages for an
individual for profit. This is something usually done by an attorney,
or the U.S. Department of Labor. Furthermore, by Mississippi law, when
a Notary Public advertises she must indicate that she is not an
attorney, if that is the case. It sounds like this woman might be
practicing law without a license. In that case you can contact the
Mississippi Bar Association's unauthorized practice of law
unit at 601-948-4471 for help with filing a formal complaint against
her. It does not matter whether or not you are undocumented; you may
file a complaint without fear. You will not be prosecuted by a law
enforcement agency, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
if you file a complaint. If you do not file a complaint, though,
nothing will be done to change the situation.
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