Obama’s Action Fuels Worry About Immigration Scams

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Advocacy groups barely waited for President Barack Obama to finish speaking about sweeping changes to the U.S. immigration system to start warning about scams.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Mexican consulates have also sounded alarms since Obama promised executive action last week that is expected to shield about 5 million people from deportation. For decades, immigrants have fallen victim to attorneys and consultants who disappear with their money or give bad advice that may land them in deportation proceedings.

Harris says changes of the magnitude Obama announced often invite con artists. She has published a lengthy tip sheet.

The government isn't expected to publish applications for three to six months, leaving some immigrants worried that they will be deported before they can even ask for relief.