,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bicf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #a1 #bjac ,mr4 ,foster 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,deutch1 ,mr4 ,quigley1 ,mr4 ,polis1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,schakowsky1 ,mr4 ,hastings of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,enyart1 ,mr4 ,tonko1 ,mr4 ,garcia1 ,mr4 ,larsen of ,washington1 and ,mr4 ,ellison7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to provide for punishments for immigration-related fraud1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protecting ,immigrants ,from ,legal ,exploitation ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,schemes to provide fraudulent immigration services 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #dg of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ajda4 ,schemes to provide fraudulent immigration services 7a7 ,in general ,any person who knowingly or recklessly executes a scheme or artifice1 in connection with any matter that is authorized by or arises under any ,federal immigration law or any matter the offender claims or represents is authorized by or arises under any ,federal immigration law1 to-- 7#a7 defraud any person2 or 7#b7 obtain or receive money or anything else of value from any person by means of false or fraudulent pretenses1 representations1 or promises1 shall be fined under this title1 imprisoned not more than #aj years1 or both4 7b7 ,misrepresentation ,any person who knowingly and falsely represents that such person is an attorney or an accredited representative 7as that term is defined in section #abib4a of title #h1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation77 in any matter arising under any ,federal immigration law shall be fined under this title1 imprisoned not more than #ae years1 or both4 7c7 ,reimbursement ,any person convicted of offenses under this section must fully reimburse the client for any services that person fraudulently provided4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ajda4 ,schemes to provide fraudulent immigration services4 4 #c4 ,combating schemes to defraud aliens 7a7 ,regulations1 forms1 and procedures ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security and the ,attorney ,general1 for matters within their respective jurisdictions arising under the immigration laws1 shall promulgate appropriate regulations1 forms1 and procedures defining the circumstances in which-- 7#a7 persons submitting applications1 petitions1 motions1 or other written materials relating to immigration benefits or relief from removal under the immigration laws will be required to identify who 7other than immediate family members7 assisted them in preparing or translating the immigration submissions2 and 7#b7 any person or persons who received compensation 7other than a normal fee for copying1 mailing1 or similar services7 in connection with the preparation1 completion1 or submission of such materials will be required to sign the form as a preparer and provide identifying information4 7b7 ,civil injunctions against immigration service provider ,the ,attorney ,general may commence a civil action in the name of the ,united ,states to enjoin any immigration service provider from further engaging in any fraudulent conduct that substantially interferes with the proper administration of the immigration laws or who willfully misrepresents such provider's legal authority to provide representation before the ,department of ,justice and the ,department of ,homeland ,security4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,immigration laws ,the term immigration laws has the meaning given that term in section #aja7;a77#ag7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ag774 7#b7 ,immigration service provider ,the term immigration service provider means any individual or entity 7other than an attorney or individual otherwise authorized to provide representation in immigration proceedings as provided in ,federal regulation7 who1 for a fee or other compensation1 provides any assistance or representation to aliens in relation to any filing or proceeding relating to the alien which arises1 or which the provider claims to arise1 under the immigration laws1 ,executive order1 or ,presidential proclamation4 #d4 ,relief for victims of notario fraud 7a7 ,in general ,an alien may withdraw1 without prejudice1 an application or other submission for immigration status or other immigration benefit if the alien submits information indicating the application or submission was prepared or submitted by an individual engaged in the unauthorized practice of law or immigration practitioner fraud and attests that the alien had no prior knowledge the application or submission was prepared or submitted by an individual engaged in the unauthorized practice of law or immigration practitioner fraud4 7b7 ,corrected filings ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 the ,secretary of ,state1 and the ,attorney ,general shall develop a procedure for submitting corrected applications or other submissions withdrawn under paragraph 7#a74 ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 the ,secretary of ,state1 and the ,attorney ,general shall permit corrected applications or other submissions to be resubmitted notwithstanding the numerical and time limitations on the filing of the applications or other submissions covered by this ,act4 7c7 ,waiver of bar to reentry ,section #bab7;a77#i77;,b77iii7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77#i77;,b77ii771 as amended by section #bcae7;a71 is further amended by adding at the end the following3 7,,vii7 ,immigration practitioner fraud ,clause 7i7 shall not apply to an alien if he can prove by clear convincing evidence that he departed the ,united ,states based on the erroneous advice of an individual engaged in the unauthorized practice of law or immigration practitioner fraud4 4 7d7 ,regulations implementing contempt authority of immigration judges ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,attorney ,general shall promulgate regulations implementing the contempt authority for immigration judges provided by section #bdj7;b77#a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abbi;a7b77#a774 ,such regulations shall provide that any civil contempt sanctions including any monetary penalty may be applicable to all parties appearing before the immigration judge4 #e4 ,outreach to immigrant communities 7a7 ,authority ,to conduct ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security and the ,attorney ,general1 acting through the ,director of the ,office for ,immigration ,review1 shall carry out a program to educate aliens regarding who may provide legal services and representation to aliens in immigration proceedings through cost-effective outreach to immigrant communities4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the program authorized under subsection 7a7 is to prevent aliens from being subjected to fraud by individuals who are not authorized to provide legal services or representation to aliens4 7c7 ,availability ,the ,attorney ,general shall1 to the extent practicable1 make publicly available information regarding fraud by immigration consultants1 visa consultants1 and other individuals who are not authorized to provide legal services or representation to aliens available-- 7#a7 at appropriate offices that provide services or information to aliens2 and 7#b7 through ,web sites that are-- 7,a7 maintained by the ,attorney ,general2 and 7,b7 intended to provide information regarding immigration matters to aliens4 7d7 ,foreign language materials ,any educational materials used to carry out the program authorized under subsection 7a7 shall1 to the extent practicable1 be made available to immigrant communities in appropriate languages1 including ,english and ,spanish4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,amounts authorized ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,availability ,any amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available until expended4 #f4 ,grant program to assist eligible applicants 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary and the ,attorney ,general shall establish1 within the ,u4,s4 ,citizenship and ,immigration ,services and the ,executive ,office for ,immigration ,review respectively1 programs to award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide direct legal services to aliens as described in subsection 7c74 7b7 ,eligible nonprofit organization ,the term eligible nonprofit organization means a nonprofit1 tax-exempt organization whose staff has demonstrated qualifications1 experience1 and expertise in providing quality services to immigrants1 refugees1 persons granted asylum1 or persons applying for such statuses4 7c7 ,use of funds ,grant funds awarded under this section shall be used for the design and implementation of programs to provide direct assistance1 within the scope of authorized practice of law1 to aliens in removal proceedings and to aliens completing applications and petitions1 including providing assistance in obtaining necessary documents and supporting evidence4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,amounts authorized ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,availability ,any amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available until expended4