‘Community leader’ facing charges of collecting illegal immigration fees

Alfred Arrojado is facing charges of illegal immigration practice in Manitoba, Canada. FACEBOOK

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Authorities charged a Filipino Canadian with working as an unlicensed immigration consultant who allegedly received about $91,000 over the past decade from Filipinos trying to come to Canada.

Documents obtained through a search warrant indicate that the payments were made through 114 Western Union money transfers to Alfredo (Fred) Arrojado, a prominent figure in the Filipino community.

Arrojado, 66, was charged November 24 with three violations related to charging immigration consulting fees without a license. Arrojado is

the past president of the Philippine Association of Manitoba, was a former commissioner with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and also ran for the provincial Progressive Conservatives in The Maples in 1995, according to a report by CBC News. Arrojado allegedly gave advice and solicited clients for a fee for immigration to Canada though the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.

The investigation began in January 2015. At Arrojado’s first court appearance, the court heard there were three boxes of evidence gathered through a search of Arrojado’s house and office. His next court date is January 22.

The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council confirmed that Arrojado is not licensed to act as an immigration consultant, although he was licensed at one time but his membership in the previous regulatory body was revoked in 2007 due to a failure to pay membership fees.

The national regulatory body said Arrojado is considered a “ghost consultant” or an unauthorized immigration consultant.

Arrojado allegedly worked with a woman in the Philippines to recruit new clients. The Canada Border Services Agency obtained several emails between the two, including evidence that Arrojado asked for fees of up to $3,500 per client.

Manitoba will only recognize a paid immigration consultant who is:

• a lawyer who is a member in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society; or
• a notary who is a member in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Quebec; or
• a consultant who is a member in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).

It also says that using a consultant or lawyer does not guarantee approval.