FIEL, a Houston-based immigrant advocacy organization, held a press conference Thursday to raise awareness about a growing problem: Fraudulent legal advice related to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
FIEL Executive Director Cesar Espinosa said some attorneys are misleading immigrants into believing they qualify for VAWA benefits based on minor incidents, such as petty arguments or children refusing to attend school.
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Families are reportedly paying $15,000 to $20,000 for these applications, only to later be denied and placed in deportation proceedings.
Espinosa encouraged victims to report these attorneys, calling the exploitation “a disgrace” and warning of the serious consequences families now face…