As an asylum-seeker in the U.S., Jasmir Urbina observed violence across the nation during immigration sweeps and feared for her safety. Urbina fled Nicaragua in 2022 and lived legally in New Orleans with her husband, regularly checking in with immigration agents as she awaited her court date. Her hearing finally approached in late November 2025. Around this time, the Trump administration initiated ‘Operation Swamp Sweep,’ deploying federal officers to the region.
Urbina searched for assistance and found a Facebook post promoting Catholic Charities’ services for immigrants. She connected via WhatsApp with ‘Susan Millan,’ a woman who claimed to have a law degree. Millan appeared professional in her photo, surrounded by a library. Millan promised Urbina that her immigration ordeal could be resolved through a virtual hearing. She shared personal details, making Urbina feel at ease.
Urbina engaged Millan’s services, completing paperwork for a fee and provided documentation, including five character references, for another fee. She and her husband paid nearly $10,000 via Zelle, the money saved for their first home. On Nov. 21, Urbina presented her case for ‘credible fear’ in a five-minute virtual hearing. The next day, Millan announced Urbina’s residency approval, claiming her documents were forthcoming. Urbina asked if she should attend her court date on Nov. 24. Millan assured her it was unnecessary.
However, when Urbina sought further contact via WhatsApp, there was no response. Days later, realizing she’d been scammed, she expressed her anger in a WhatsApp message, denouncing the scammers’ actions. There was no Susan Millan linked to Catholic Charities. This was an instance of ‘notario fraud,’ where scammers exploit the mistranslation of ‘notary’ in Latin America to imply legal expertise.
Urbina reported the scam to authorities, leading to her scheduled virtual check-in being changed to an in-person meeting, where ICE agents arrested her. By January, Urbina was deported to Nicaragua. The Department of Homeland Security warned that impersonators would face prosecution but did not comment on Urbina’s case.
ProPublica analyzed data indicating a rise in immigration scams under President Trump. Immigration complaints doubled, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) noted an increase from 960 to nearly 2,000 annual complaints for scams involving fake attorneys or federal officer impersonations.
The scams cost victims at least $94.4 million reported to the FTC over five years. The true figure is likely higher as many fear reporting scams due to deportation risks. States and legal groups warned the public, with legislative actions taken to increase fraud penalties.
Chris Ross of Catholic Charities highlighted scammers’ use of advanced technologies, like AI, to execute fraudulent schemes. Victims are often deceived by realistic virtual hearings with AI-generated images.
‘Immigration scammers contribute to a lawless environment, undermining our immigration system,’ said Zach Kahler from Citizenship and Immigration Services.
ProPublica found cases where scammers impersonated attorneys and officials, even posing as DHS agents for financial gain. Victims were threatened with deportation unless payments were made, often using gift cards or cash transfers.
Scams rely heavily on social media. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, pledged to remove scam accounts and improve tracking tools. Charity Anastasio noted these scams target Spanish-speaking users through ads promising immigration solutions.
Adonia Simpson from the American Bar Association noted increased fear of deportation drove many immigrants to seek legal representation, further enriching scammers.
Cases like José Aguilar’s demonstrate how scam ads prey on immigrants facing deportation. Aguilar paid $15,000 based on a Facebook ad promising residency that was revealed as fraudulent.
Mariela, from Honduras, faced a scam after her daughter’s detention. She connected with imposters posing as legal representatives on Facebook, losing over $18,000 in borrowed funds. Her case underscored the urgency in warning immigrants against such scams.
Despite public alerts, scammers remain active. Urbina, now in Nicaragua, was again contacted by a supposed lawyer seeking to exploit her situation. Her skepticism proved wise, as he disappeared after requesting money.
Kevin Brennan of Catholic Charities advised immigrants to contact organizations directly, avoiding social media channels to ensure authenticity and support.
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