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Today, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee passed Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s (TX-16) legislation to criminalize fraudulent immigration services and prevent notario fraud. 

H.R. 4435, the Fight Notario Fraud Act of 2021, introduced on July 16 by Congresswoman Escobar, would criminalize the provision of fraudulent legal services, certain misrepresentations by individuals who claim to be authorized to practice immigration law, and threats and retaliation associated with the provision of fraudulent legal services. Additionally, the bill would require the U.S. Attorney General to create no fewer than 15 Special United States Attorney positions to prosecute notario fraud crimes.  

“For years, opportunistic grifters posing as qualified immigration lawyers have purposefully used the term notario to take advantage of vulnerable immigrants in communities like El Paso,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Today, the House Judiciary Committee passed my legislation to give the Department of Justice the tools to go after perpetrators of notario fraud and protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation with Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee and Sylvia Garcia and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this crucial piece of legislation.” 

“I am proud the Committee passed the Fight Notario Fraud Act today, much needed legislation that will criminalize the practice by unlicensed, and often untrained, people who offer legal services in immigration matters to unsuspecting victims,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10). “I thank Representative Escobar for her leadership on this vital issue, and I look forward to working together to get this bill to the floor for a vote by the full House of Representatives.”

View full markup debate of the legislation here. To view the bill text, click here.