A growing number of immigration consulting businesses in the Sacramento region are facing fraud allegations, raising concerns about how vulnerable communities are being served.

Recently, attorneys with the Immigrant Rights Defense Council filed lawsuits against three firms—Professional Immigrant Services, Filatova Immigration Consulting, and Manning & Sutfin—claiming they misrepresented themselves as qualified to provide legal immigration services. At the center of the issue is the accusation that these businesses crossed the line from administrative help into unauthorized legal practice, while also failing to clearly disclose that they are not attorneys.

Immigration consultants are legally allowed to assist with tasks like translation and form submission, but they cannot give legal advice or represent clients in court. Advocates argue that when consultants blur this distinction, the consequences can be serious. Mistakes in immigration paperwork can lead not just to financial loss, but also to deportation or family separation.

The demand for these services has increased alongside stricter immigration enforcement, leaving many immigrants searching for faster or more affordable help than traditional legal channels provide. This creates a difficult balance: people need accessible support, but they also risk being misled or exploited.

While two of the accused firms deny wrongdoing and say they follow regulations, concerns remain widespread. Reports from local nonprofits highlight cases where clients paid large sums for incomplete or nonexistent services. In some situations, individuals were even charged to access documents that already belonged to them.

State data shows the number of immigration consulting firms is rising, even as warnings from officials about “notario fraud” become more urgent. For many immigrants, the stakes are high, and the line between help and harm can be dangerously thin.