NEW YORK, N.Y., Fri. Oct. 1: Caribbean immigrants in the U.S. are being warned to steer clear of recent claims of an immigration amnesty in Florida. The rumor mill has been buzzing recently with claims that a Florida-based group called, HACHO, is offering undocumented immigrants a chance to obtain a greencard. According to information reaching HBN, the group, with a Fort Lauderdale-based address, claims that for $450, an undocumented immigrant will be able to obtain a greencard in about 10 months. Persons are told they should have a Florida address, since it’s the only state where the “amnesty” is being recognized. Additionally, they are advised to submit a copy of their I-95 or passport with visa showing entry into the U.S.; birth certificate and two photo ID’s. An application is apparently submitted for the applicant and in approximately five weeks a ‘Notice of Action is made available. With this NOA, the immigrant is told he or she is eligible to obtain a non-drivers ID and a green card for work purposes only. The complete greencard, the immigrant is told, will be issued in 10 months. But advocate Irwine Clare, of the Caribbean Immigrant Services, says it is a scam and warned immigrants to be wary. “There is no amnesty at this point and there is no opportunity to regularize outside of the normal processes of petitioning that exists,” said Clare. “In times like these there are persons setting deadlines and confusing people with the hurricane and the election. Immigration is no even being discussed in Congress and the hurricane in Florida does not allow for any immigration benefits.” Clare also explained that amnesty is a federal issue and if there were an amnesty, all immigrants across the U.S. would be eligible and not just those in Florida. He also warned if Caribbeans participate and get benefits in a fraudulent way through these scams, any future immigration opportunities they may have had would be shot under this zero-tolerance policy that exists. An attempt to reach ‘HACHO,’ through the number listed resulted in a continuous busy tone while U.S. immigration officials did not respond to a call seeking comment. SOURCE: HARDBEATNEWS.COM