A Colorado business that allegedly advertised itself around the country as an “expert team of professionals” dealing with immigration questions has been ordered to stop engaging in deceptive trade practices, according to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers.
The business, called the Immigration Center, allegedly charged from $300 to $700 for immigration forms that are free from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Colorado AG’s office alleged that the Colorado Springs-based Immigration Center either posed as a government agency or claimed an affiliation with a government agency.
The center advertised its services through various websites, including , uscis-ins.us, and .
In reality, said Suthers, the Immigration Center is not a government agency or in any way affiliated with the government.
Suthers said the court order prohibiting the center from engaging in deceptive trade practices, including posing as the federal government, was handed down Monday but announced today.
Other alleged practices of the center included selling the wrong forms to a consumer that did not fit the person’s particular circumstances.
In addition, the organization’s “document specialists” are not current or former government employees, nor are they authorized or properly trained to dispense legal advice, according to allegations.
The Immigration Center also allegedly sent correspondence to consumers printed on letterhead that included a replica of the seal of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which led clients to believe they were dealing with an arm of the U.S. government when they were not, investigators said.
When consumers requested a refund of their $300 to $700, the Immigration Center relied upon a “no refunds” policy or simply ignored the requests, according to the AG’s office.
Suthers said Charles Doucette, a director and registered agent of the Immigration Center, recently signed a settlement agreement with the Office of Attorney Regulation that restricts him from selecting and completing immigration forms for consumers — activities that are considered the unauthorized practice of law.
The Immigration Center allegedly began engaging in the practices in 2007. The practices continued until this week, possibly affecting thousands of clients, said the attorney general.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
