Some undocumented Irish people in the United States are falling victim to green card scams, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said today.
Mr Ahern said it was disgraceful that people posing as lawyers were taking advantage of vulnerable Irish citizens after he met immigrant groups in Boston.
"This situation is very serious," he said. "Irish immigrant centres have detailed how those at their lowest ebb in the Irish community in America are being duped into parting with their hard-earned money on the basis of a scam that somehow they can be provided with permanent legal status.
"I know the authorities in the US are investigating some incidents where immigrants have parted with cash on the false promise of green cards and work permits. Reports in local papers have detailed between €4,000 and €9,000 changing hands," he said.
"It is bad enough being undocumented but to be subject to downright fraud heightens the sense of helplessness and despair."
During his week-long trip to the US, Mr Ahern visited New York and the Irish Immigration Centre in Boston.
The centre, which has received Irish Government funding of €682,859, assisted some 5,500 Irish people in the past 12 months.
Mr Ahern emphasised the Government's campaign to regularise the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States - which is estimated at 25,000 people.
PA