Check the attorney
Three government registries. The check takes three minutes and costs nothing.
Updated July 28, 2026
1 · State bar association
Active license and no discipline on record. Each state has its own registry — search for "state bar" and the state name.
2 · DOJ accredited representatives
Not attorneys, but authorized to represent people in immigration court. Often free or low cost — this is legitimate help.
3 · EOIR disciplinary list
Who is barred from practicing before the immigration courts. EOIR is the government service that runs all the immigration courts in the country; its lists are official.
Notario
Notario público ≠ lawyer
In Latin American countries a notario público is a trained legal professional. In the United States it is someone who witnesses signatures. They cannot represent anyone in immigration court.
That difference in meaning between countries is the basis of the most common fraud.
Red flags
- A promise of release on a specific day
- A guarantee of the case outcome
- Cash up front with no written agreement
- Refusing to give a license number
- A contract in a language you do not understand
- A monthly "ankle monitor lease" on top of a percentage of the bond — the company Libre by Nexus received an $811 million judgment for that scheme (2024)
"Out today with a petition already prepared"
A habeas petition requires the person to already be in custody, naming the specific facility. A pre-prepared petition for instant release does not exist.
Information updated July 28, 2026. Rules change — check the date.
We are not attorneys and we do not give legal advice. This page has facts and links to official sources only.