Filipina in California Convicted of Mail Fraud, Immigration Scam
Global Nation reports that Evelyn Sineneng-Smith, a 66 year old Filipina “immigration consultant,” was found guilty of mail fraud and of taking advantage of Filipinos hoping to obtain permanent residency in the United States. Sineneng-Smith operated an immigration consultation business in San-Jose, California, from 1990 to 2008. She advised mainly Filipino nationals in the U.S. on visitor visas to apply for labor certification from the DOL as a path towards obtaining lawful permanent residence, despite her knowledge that existing immigration regulations had changed and that this was no longer a viable route to permanent residency. She charged $5,900 to file these applications and also encouraged her clients to overstay their tourist visas and to work illegally at residential healthcare facilities. Sineneng-Smith was charged with three counts of encouraging and inducing illegal immigration for private financial gain, and three counts of mail fraud. The maximum penalty for each count of the former is 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. She also faces 20 years for each count of mail fraud and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution.
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Brewer’s Court Brief Defends Immigrant Driver’s License Policy
Azcentral.com reports that Governor Jan Brewer defended her order to deny drivers licenses to young immigrants by filing arguments with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Several civil-rights groups have called her order unconstitutional, claiming it unfairly denies licenses to young immigrants benefitting from Obama’s DACA policy. Arizona currently allows other immigrants with work permits to obtain drivers licenses, but excludes those with work permits obtained via DACA benefits. Opponents also argued that Arizona’s treatment of DACA “obstructs Congress’ delegation of discretionary authority to the federal executive.” Conversely, Brewer argued that the Obama policy interferes with Arizona’s authority to control license distribution. U.S. District Judge David Campbell spoke in agreement with civil-rights groups; they have two weeks to file an optional reply to Brewer’s argument.
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