Monday, February 6, 2012

SB0144 “Immigration Consultants”: a Much Needed Bill by Jonathan Soto

Our government is meant to protect all people that are its main responsibility. But up to this day, some of the people that currently reside in Utah are left vulnerable to predators who want to cheat them into surrendering their money to them. Immigrants are currently vulnerable to people who know that they can outsmart them by translating legal documents wrongfully or by deceiving them. One of the problems is that the credentials and qualifications for becoming a notario in many Spanish-speaking countries are more stringent than the requirements to become a notary in the U.S. so many people who are unaware of the differences trust that a notary in the U.S can do more than they are actually eligible to do.

Senator Luz Robles has recently presented a bill to the senate, that will help protect the immigrants that currently reside in this country, the bill is known as SB0144: "Immigration Consultants." This bill will require people that translate documents and help immigrants with all types of their paper work, ranging from citizenship papers or mortgaging a home. This bill will require the person offering certain professional services to obtain a license in order to provide this services.

An example of why these consultants are needed is in a case that a friend of mine had to witness. This crime took place in Phoenix, Arizona but I’m sure there are many people that have been put through the same situation. In this case my friends parents who chose to remain anonymous, said that they felt "cheated “and "ignorant" the criminal had advised them to stop paying their mortgage, so that eventually they would obtain a deal with the home owner that would bring the price of the house to what it would currently be priced at by a bank. Well this person in the end took about ten thousand dollars from them, and the main factor in them falling for this scam was because they did not know the complete meaning of the papers that had been presented to them.

This is a prime example of why the people who provide these services should be licensed. We must protect all people in the United States, the immigrant. The main purpose of this bill is to make people who are already consulting immigrants, have to obtain a license before they go out and help them. The reason for needing to get this license is to provide some protection for these immigrants, just like there are laws that protect people from false advice from lawyers there should be some cushion that protects immigrants from being hustled out of their money.

According to the fiscal notice that is located on the legislative website, this bill will bring in a revenue of 200 dollars, which is not a big number, but according to representative David Litvack (D) who is the minority leader in the House of Representatives, “Regardless of the impact financially, I think it’s consistence, no matter what someone’s personal view is about government, which is what’s debated up here. It sounds, to me that it is very consistent in terms with what government should be doing, in protecting Utah and Utah residents.” Our government’s job is still mainly to protect its people and not worry about the financial issue if it is going to protect the people.

Representative Litvack made a clear point that the government’s job is to protect the people of Utah, whether you were born here or you migrated here. This bill will help protect many immigrants in the state of Utah and will also help improve the living conditions of the many immigrants in Utah. That is why SB0144 “Immigration Consultants” should pass in this year’s legislative session.

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