San Francisco’s City Attorney, David Chiu, is taking a firm stance against what has been described as a predatory immigration consulting business. As reported, Chiu has filed legal action to enforce an injunction against Leonard Lacayo and his firm, Lacayo & Associates, for illegally providing immigration services to vulnerable immigrants, charging them for services they are not authorized to offer. This injunction, initially placed in 2017, was violated by Lacayo, prompting the city to push for enforcement in 2022, which the Court granted.
Despite the legal constraints, Lacayo has offered immigration advice, even after receiving cease and desist letters from the California State Bar. According to the City Attorney’s Office, “Once again, Leonard Lacayo has demonstrated zero regard for the law or the immigrant communities he purports to serve.” Chiu’s office is now seeking to reinforce the injunction and extend it by an additional five years, effectively banning Lacayo & Associates’ immigration services until September 2032.
The background of Lacayo’s dealings reveals a troubling history. Operating since 1986, he has portrayed himself as a lawyer, despite being neither licensed to practice law nor registered as an immigration consultant. This charade has led many vulnerable individuals to trust him with complex immigration issues they face, only to find themselves misled and, at times, in more legal trouble than before. The City Attorney’s Office previously secured an injunction against Lacayo, ordering him to pay restitution and civil penalties.
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