'Notario Fraud' Exploits Immigrants Seeking Legal Help, Experts Warn
Unlicensed notaries prey on immigrants navigating a complex legal system, risking deportation and financial loss.
WASHINGTON — Immigrants desperate for legal guidance are falling victim to “notario fraud,” a widespread practice in which unlicensed individuals offer immigration advice they are not legally qualified to give — often with devastating consequences.
Misleadingly calling themselves “notarios” or “notario públicos,” these individuals often pose as attorneys or legal advisors, despite having no legal training or license to practice law in the U.S. The term “notario público” — which in Latin America and parts of Europe refers to a licensed legal professional — has no such equivalence in the United States, where a notary public is only authorized to witness signatures.
“A notary is a professional witness in the United States,” said Ruby Robinson, an attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. “That’s it.” Yet, he said, clients routinely arrive at his office after receiving incorrect advice from notaries that may jeopardize their immigration status or trigger deportation.
Michigan law prohibits notaries from offering legal advice and requires them to display clear disclaimers. They are also barred from using the term “notario público” in advertising. Other states may not be.
Ron Walker, principal at Walker & Associates of Michigan, described a common scenario: A notary helps submit a faulty naturalization form, wasting money and potentially triggering removal proceedings. “If you had a brain tumor, you wouldn’t consult a next-door neighbor, you’d consult a brain surgeon,” he said.
A 1996 Los Angeles survey found nearly three-quarters of undocumented immigrants had received legal advice from notaries. The problem persists today. Outlier Media found multiple Detroit-area businesses advertising themselves as “notario público,” despite state prohibitions.
Robinson said the systemic barriers of the U.S. immigration system push many toward such risky alternatives. “They’ve been told no and no and no, and then someone says, ‘Oh, actually, there’s this thing you can do.’”
Advocates say the best protection is seeking licensed legal help. “Start there before you take a friend’s recommendation for a notary,” said Elizabeth Orozco-Vasquez, CEO of Freedom House Detroit. “They’re not equipped to take on immigration work.”