Remember Elias Bermudez? He one of the stranger critics of Sheriff Joe Arpaio who practically disappeared a few years ago after being ordered by a county judge to stop charging immigrants for his legal advice, since he's not a lawyer.
Well, he's popped up again -- the New Mexico Attorney General's Office says Bermudez was "providing unauthorized immigration consulting services," including helping immigrants prepare Deferred Action applications.
See also:
-The Bermudez Triangle
-DREAMers Vulnerable to Scams, Activists and Feds Warn
The New Mexico AG's office says Bermudez and other Arizonans had set up their company, Centro Ayuda USA Inc., in Albuquerque.
"Centro Ayuda operated under pretext that it is a non-profit entity, which does not charge for its services," a statement from New Mexico Attorney General Gary King's office says. "However, the company informed clients that it expected a donation of $500. Centro Ayuda's Director Elias Bermudez is neither an attorney nor is he accredited by the federal Board of Immigration Appeals, as required by law."
That sounds awfully familiar to how Bermudez operated back in Arizona, as described in a 2007 New Times cover story:
At an event in August, aimed at letting workers know what could happen to them under Arizona's new employer sanctions law, Inmigrantes has a table set up where people can fill out and file what's known as a G-28 form, which gives legal representation to immigrants. Filers are asked for a $10 donation, which goes to Inmigrantes, and the paperwork is filed by Bermudez's for-profit document-preparation business, Centro de Ayuda (The Help Center).
The New Mexico AG says Bermudez's problems included the fact that he's not an attorney, didn't have accreditation from the federal Board of Immigration Appeals, and was not registered with the state or city of Albuquerque.
The statement says Bermudez shut down his shop voluntarily.
Texas, anyone?
