Two women in the Minneapolis area say what looked like a way to get their loved ones out of immigration detention turned into a dead end and a big bill. They told reporters they each sent $1,500 to someone posing as an immigration attorney who promised to free their relatives from ICE custody, only to realize nothing was moving in their cases.
Both women say they found the supposed help on a slick digital flyer for “Inmigrate & Asociados L.LC.” that listed a Florida area code. One family member, they say, is still being held in a Texas detention facility. When they later asked the person they had paid to show proof of state bar credentials, they say she refused.
According to CBS Minnesota, WCCO spoke with the two women, identified as Geovana Patricia and Alexandra Chorlango. They described getting shifting explanations about the status of their relatives’ cases and receiving what was described as a release document that was full of typos. One cousin’s son was ultimately released, they told the station, but only after a separate pro bono attorney filed a habeas petition. CBS Minnesota reports that when WCCO called the woman who had taken the payments, she again declined to provide proof that she is a practicing lawyer.
How the alleged scheme worked
The women say the outreach started with a professional-looking digital flyer and quickly turned into urgent requests for money, a pattern consumer officials flag as a common tell for advance-fee scams that target families in crisis. The Minnesota Attorney General's Office warns that immigration fraudsters often pose as attorneys or "notarios," demand large upfront payments, pressure people to act fast and sometimes send fake paperwork to create the illusion of progress. The office urges anyone seeking help on an immigration matter to verify a person’s credentials before handing over documents or money.
Verify credentials before you pay
Federal officials stress that only licensed attorneys or Department of Justice accredited representatives are allowed to give immigration legal advice. USCIS advises people to rely on official government resources instead of social media posts, random flyers or unsolicited messages.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review keeps public rosters of recognized organizations and accredited representatives that can be searched online. For anyone dealing with someone who claims to be admitted in Florida, The Florida Bar offers a searchable "Find a Lawyer" directory and a referral hotline that can confirm whether an individual is licensed and in good standing.
Where to report and get help
People who suspect they have been targeted by a scam are urged to keep all texts, emails, receipts and screenshots, then report what happened. Minnesota’s consumer protection materials list state reporting options, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) accepts online complaints involving fraud that uses the internet or electronic communication.
For legitimate legal help, the Executive Office for Immigration Review publishes rosters and lists of pro bono legal service providers, and local bar association referral services can help connect families with vetted immigration attorneys.
Local context
The reports of possible scams are surfacing while federal immigration enforcement activity has ramped up in the Twin Cities, leaving many families scrambling to find lawyers and basic information. Minneapolis city leaders and the state have challenged that enforcement surge in court, and local officials and advocates say the fear and chaos surrounding detention efforts can make it easier for opportunistic actors to take advantage of desperate relatives.
Legal note
Posing as an attorney and accepting money for legal services can carry both civil and criminal consequences. State bar authorities and federal immigration agencies have complaint and disciplinary systems for handling allegations involving unauthorized practice of law and misconduct.
Victims are advised to save every communication and proof of payment, contact local law enforcement or consumer protection offices and confirm the status of any representative with the relevant state bar or the federal accreditation rosters. That documentation can help protect ongoing immigration cases and support any effort to recover lost funds.
