Nestande Touts Legislation Setting Regs on Attorneys, Consultants who Offer Immigration Services

Update 3:25 p.m. Sept. 4  Amy Yarbrough with the State Bar of California confirms her organization is a sponsor of AB 1159.

She also points out the correct name of her organization is the State Bar of California, not the California State Bar Association, which is how Nestande's staff described the State Bar of California in their announcement Sept. 3.


Posted 2:50 p.m. Sept. 3 Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, and his staff on Monday touted his contribution to a new bill that's intended to protect immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship from fraud and abuse.

Nestande, who represents the 42nd Assembly District, co-authored legislation with Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, that "establishes minimum statutory requirements and regulations through the State Bar of California for attorneys and consultants who offer immigration services under comprehensive immigration reform," his staff said in a statement.

Assembly Bill 1159 is intended to protect vulnerable Californians "who believe they may be able to seek protection as a result of pending federal immigration reform proposals, but, instead, are already the target of fraudulent schemes," Nestande's staff said.

The bill is aimed at reducing fraud before it occurs, as well as provide appropriate enforcement tools against fraudulent behavior in relation to the reform services act, according to Nestande's staff.

"As we work toward significant immigration reform, it is important that we ensure these individuals are not being taken advantage of," Nestande said. "Language barriers and a lack of understanding of the rights under California law make these individuals extremely susceptible to unscrupulous people who seek to prey upon them."

The bill AB 1159 clarifies immigration reforms services, prohibits the demand for advance fees before the immigration reform act is enacted, and provides added tools to crack down on unauthorized practice of immigration law, Nestande's staff said. It's sponsored by the California State Bar Association.

The 42nd Assembly District includes Banning, Beaumont, Cabazon, Calimesa, Cherry Valley, Hemet, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, San Jacinto, Whitewater, Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree, Landers, Morongo Valley, Pioneertown, Yucaipa, and Yucca Valley.