Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2023

HR 5797, the Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2023, targets fraud in immigration services by imposing criminal penalties on individuals who falsely claim legal authority or defraud immigrants. It makes it a federal offense to execute schemes involving false promises about immigration services (up to 10 years in prison) or falsely represent oneself as an attorney (up to 15 years), requiring full reimbursement to victims. The bill mandates that immigration service providers (non-lawyers charging fees) identify themselves and disclose fees when assisting applicants, and allows immigrants to withdraw fraudulent applications without penalty. It also requires government agencies to create outreach programs educating immigrants on legitimate legal services and establish procedures for corrected filings.