Crackdown on people offering phony immigration services on the way in Phila.

Philadelphia City Council is moving ahead with a bill to crack down on people who try to defraud immigrants trying to avoid deportation. 

Councilman Dennis O’Brien says there are too many unscrupulous Notarios as they are called in the immigrant community, who make outlandish promises to those trying to stay in the country.

“This is an injustice that is perpetrated on the citizens or individuals living in the city of Philadelphia and we have to realize that we have always been a home for immigrants and we always will be,” he said. 

Jennifer Rodriguez of the Mayor’s office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs says the crime often goes unreported because immigrants fear that they will be deported if they file a complaint.

“Even if they are willing to pursue legal action they don’t know who to turn to,” she said, adding that there are 50,000 residents in the city eligible for U.S. citizenship. 

Having cleared committee, the bill now goes to all of city council for a vote.