The Iranian American Lawyers Association (IALA), was invited to be on the panel at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Immigration Fraud Task Force Meeting on January 24, 2008.

P. Patrick Ashouri IALA’s former president (2004 & 2006), current director and in charge of the association’s public relation affairs, attended the meeting. Other Panelists at the “Immigration Fraud Task Force Meeting”, were the Director of Consumer Affairs of the Los Angeles County Pastor Herrera, Jane Kim, Deputy Trial Counsel and Alan Gordon, Assistant Chief Trial Counsel of the State Bar of California, Deputy district Attorney Kathleen Tuttle, Deputy-in-Charge, Antitrust Section (LADA), Deputy District Attorney David Burger (LADA), Representatives from the State of California Attorney General Office, U.S. Attorney Office Central District, Keri Anel, Chief Trial Counsel for ICE, John W. Salter, Los Angeles County Bar Association Immigration Law section Chair, Annaluisa Padilla. Latino Bar Association President. Ana Maria Garcia, representatives from the Arab American Lawyers Association of Southern California and other community representatives.

The task force meeting was hosted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley who in his opening remarks referred to the value of the community based organizations as well as the lawyer and bar association’s partnership with law enforcement to combat the unauthorized practice of law in relation to immigration fraud. He further introduced his deputy district attorneys who provided details on the cases that the LADA has been and is involved with in prosecuting unauthorized practice of law cases.

The panelists from the government detailed their jurisdiction, their limitations and their partnership with Local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies and welcomed the community’s participation in combating and prosecuting unauthorized practice of law and Immigration Fraud.

IALA is proud to continue its active participation in assisting local, State and Federal agencies in investigating and prosecuting unauthorized practice of law and immigration fraud issues. IALA feel strongly about protecting the community against opportunist and con artists who like to promise the world to the immigrant community. As a Lawyer’s Association IALA continues to support the work of licensed and professional practitioners as well as supporting the prosecution to the full extend of the law of unlicensed individuals who pray on the community.