VTMBH Article: Body
In the aftermath of September 11th, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), in increased cooperation with the Social Security Administration (SSA), severely stiffened penalties for social security fraud and abuse. Since then, a growing number of innocentor foolishKoreans have been deceived by false social security brokers in New York. Koreans should beware!
Illegal brokers are openly selling counterfeit Korean emigration passports and New York State drivers licenses on the streets. Authorities report over 100 incidents of lost or stolen passports or drivers licenses each month. To date, almost 1,200 cases have been reported this year.
Undocumented Korean immigrants have paid the H Tour Company in Flushing between $1,000-$3,000 apiece for a counterfeit or altered stolen document. Illegal brokers earn large amounts of money by selling false social security cards and drivers licenses to the Korean community in New York.
The Office of Homeland Securitys (OHS) task force in New York State has stepped up their interest in false social security cards. Arrests for the sale or purchase of false social security cards have increased; almost 300 arrests were made in the Queens area up to September.
Despite the high number of arrests, the H Tour Company, located on the second floor of Flushings Union Mall, which recently came under investigation, has not stopped selling false cards to undocumented Korean immigrants. In November 2001, a Mr. L came to America from Korea, with another family member, with tourist visas. He innocently purchased what he believed to be two valid social security cards for a total of $3,000. After one year, Mr. L attempted to open a bank account with a Korean bank in Flushing, to deposit the savings he had accrued through working here, but was informed by the bank that his social security card was invalid. He was shocked.
Mr. L went to the H Tour Company to protest their sale of illegal cards. The company responded by telling him that they had been issuing false cards for 10 years without any difficulties, and that he should not create any problems for them. Mr. L has been put into an embarrassing and difficult situation. The familys visas have expired, and they are unable to bring charges against the tour company for fear of government reprisal and ouster. They cannot take any steps to solve their situation.
In a related case a few days ago, a Roosevelt Avenue driving school was shut down following a raid by the OHSs task force. Such illegal brokers prey on the anxieties and fears of undocumented immigrants seeking American identification documents. They represent the underside of the Korean community and must be eradicated!
Illegal brokers are openly selling counterfeit Korean emigration passports and New York State drivers licenses on the streets. Authorities report over 100 incidents of lost or stolen passports or drivers licenses each month. To date, almost 1,200 cases have been reported this year.
Undocumented Korean immigrants have paid the H Tour Company in Flushing between $1,000-$3,000 apiece for a counterfeit or altered stolen document. Illegal brokers earn large amounts of money by selling false social security cards and drivers licenses to the Korean community in New York.
The Office of Homeland Securitys (OHS) task force in New York State has stepped up their interest in false social security cards. Arrests for the sale or purchase of false social security cards have increased; almost 300 arrests were made in the Queens area up to September.
Despite the high number of arrests, the H Tour Company, located on the second floor of Flushings Union Mall, which recently came under investigation, has not stopped selling false cards to undocumented Korean immigrants. In November 2001, a Mr. L came to America from Korea, with another family member, with tourist visas. He innocently purchased what he believed to be two valid social security cards for a total of $3,000. After one year, Mr. L attempted to open a bank account with a Korean bank in Flushing, to deposit the savings he had accrued through working here, but was informed by the bank that his social security card was invalid. He was shocked.
Mr. L went to the H Tour Company to protest their sale of illegal cards. The company responded by telling him that they had been issuing false cards for 10 years without any difficulties, and that he should not create any problems for them. Mr. L has been put into an embarrassing and difficult situation. The familys visas have expired, and they are unable to bring charges against the tour company for fear of government reprisal and ouster. They cannot take any steps to solve their situation.
In a related case a few days ago, a Roosevelt Avenue driving school was shut down following a raid by the OHSs task force. Such illegal brokers prey on the anxieties and fears of undocumented immigrants seeking American identification documents. They represent the underside of the Korean community and must be eradicated!