Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Voices That Must Be Heard" Articles Description An account of the resource The Independent Press Association (IPA) translates articles from the ethnic press (when necessary) and distributes them via web and fax newsletter to mainstream and ethnic press, government offices, nonprofits, and interested individuals. Voices That Must be Heard was designed by the Independent Press Association staff in New York City in response to the horrifying events of September 11. After Sept. 11th, Voices focused on the South Asian, Arab and Middle Eastern communities in New York. Since February 2002, the project has expanded, selecting articles from the broad range of ethnic and community newspapers throughout the city. Here, the Archive has preserved the Voices collection from its inception until November 2002. VTMBH Article VTMBH Article: Edition 46 VTMBH Article: Article Order 2 VTMBH Article: Title False social security brokers on the rise: H Tour Company in Flushings Union Mall issues false social security cards VTMBH Article: Author VTMBH Article: Publication Joo Gan New York News VTMBH Article: Original Language Korean VTMBH Article: Translator Sun-Yong Reinish VTMBH Article: Section edits VTMBH Article: Blurb The sale of counterfeit social security cards and drivers licenses is big business for illegal brokers who prey on the fears of undocumented immigrants. Even crackdowns from the INS have not deterred these companies from selling fake IDs. These illegal brokers represent the underside of the Korean community and must be eradicated. VTMBH Article: Keywords 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! VTMBH Article: Line Breaks 1 VTMBH Article: Date 2002-12-06 VTMBH Article: Thumb VTMBH Article: Article File VTMBH Article: Hit Count 111 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource False social security brokers on the rise: H Tour Company in Flushings Union Mall issues false socia 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. unknown Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. article Original Name The original name of this item. The sale of counterfeit social security cards and drivers licenses is big business for illegal broke Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-12-06