Office Overview | Victim Services | Press Room | Community Resources | What's New | Careers | Juvenile Justice | Contact

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed a lawsuit against a Cicero business woman alleging that she engaged in immigration fraud and the illegal operation of an immigration services business, State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced today. 

Named in the lawsuit is Gloria Juarez, 53, who operates her business from the Cyndi Lynn Motel located at 5029 W. Ogden in Cicero.  Operating at the motel, Juarez offered immigration assistance services to Spanish-speaking consumers in Cook County. The lawsuit alleges that Juarez induced consumers to hire her by misrepresenting that she could obtain work permits, social security cards and permanent residency cards for them even though they were not eligible for these benefits. 

The suit alleges that Juarez committed numerous violations of a state law designed to protect consumers from non-attorneys who offer immigration assistance services.  Juarez is not registered with the Illinois Attorney General as an immigration service provider as required by law, she is not accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent individuals on immigration matters and she is not a licensed attorney, according to the lawsuit.

Specifically, Juarez is alleged to have improperly given legal advice, represented that she could obtain special favors from immigration officials and retained consumer’s monies after failing to secure promised work permits and social security numbers.  Juarez is alleged to have further violated consumer protection laws by failing to provide customers with written contracts, failing to post required signs and disclaimers at her place of business and failing to register and maintain required malpractice insurance.

State’s Attorney Alvarez said that the illegal actions of Juarez can be devastating for immigrants and their families who are attempting to obtain proper legal documentation in the United States.  She also urged anyone who believes that they may have been a victim of Juarez to contact her office for assistance. 

“The improper filing of a U.S. Immigration form can result in serious immigration consequences for applicants including deportation, denial of the applicant’s right to enter the United States or even denial of the applicant’s ability to reunite with family and relatives for many years,” Alvarez said. 

“It is deeply troubling to find persons such as this who prey on vulnerable immigrants and their families who strive to live and work lawfully in this country.  I want Cook County consumers and businesses to know that immigration fraud will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of one victim who paid Juarez a total of $15,000 for services that she did not perform and was lawfully unable to perform.  The victim had contacted Juarez for immigration assistance in 2010 after being referred to her by a friend.  The victim’s brother, a U.S. citizen, had previously sponsored an immigration visa on his behalf.  According to the lawsuit, Juarez told the victim that she could secure a work permit, social security card and residency for him and his wife and son within six months because she had a relative that worked at the U.S. Immigration office in Chicago. 

Over the course of several months the victim made a series of cash payments to Juarez totaling $15,000 but he and his family never received the promised work permits, social security numbers or lawful permanent residency that Juarez had promised.  When the victim went to the motel to see Juarez in May of 2011 to demand his money back, she wrote him a $10,000 reimbursement check that bounced because it was written on a closed account.

The lawsuit seeks to bar Gloria Juarez from providing immigration assistance services to the public; refunds for injured consumers and a $50,000 fine.  State’s Attorney Alvarez urged consumers who may have been victimized by Juarez to contact the State’s Attorney’s Consumer Fraud Division at (312) 603-8700.  Bilingual Spanish-English assistance is available.

- Back -