Bill Bars Undocumented Immigrants from Selling Real Estate, Mortgages

None by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) In an effort to crack down on mortgage fraud, Orem Senator Margaret Dayton wants the Division of Real Estate to verify the immigration status of each person requesting a real estate or mortgage license or renewal. Orem real estate agent and licensed loan officer Arturo Morales says illegal immigrants with these state licenses have already proven themselves to be dishonest, because they lied about their identities on official documents.

"The minimum thing that we can do, and the most important thing that we can do, is make sure that illegal immigrants, who have already lied to obtain a license, do not get license or do not get renewed, " Morales says. "That should help in reducing mortgage fraud and the problems we have in the real estate industry."

Morales says the Division of Real Estate conducts background searches on license applicants, but does not verify social security numbers. As a result, Morales says he personally knows of several illegal immigrants who have Utah real estate and lending licenses. This concerned some of the members of the Senate Business and Labor Committee, but questions remain about the accuracy of current verification systems. Salt Lake County Senator Carlene Walker says she's been duped by forged documents before. She says the federal electronic verification system doesn't work.

"They can go in and buy false documentation for $25 bucks. And it's darn good, unless you're a professional, unless you have a way of knowing they are false," Walker says. "So, how do you know? How can you tell? Unless you get a decent verification system from the federal government, I don't know who you hold responsible and how you do that."

Morales argues entrepreneurs in the private sector are eager to solve these identity-verification issues. As the bill is written now, Dayton says it does not require the Division of Real Estate to use the maligned e-verification system - clearing the way for a possible private-public partnership. SB 222 secured unanimous committee support Tuesday and heads to the full Senate for consideration.

1. LiLy Pierre-Byng said:

My social security card was stolen. Now I am told that it can affect me when I go to retire. If someone uses it, it can prevent me from getting my retirement. Since I have used my life savings for medical expenses and have no family, this is very frightening. I could actually die in the streets. How can a 65 to 90 year old with serious health problems work? What happens to them with no money and no family?Illegals are coming in and using everything that we paid into the system for. Also some legals are bringing in their families who have babies here that we pay for.Making it illegal for real estate to be bought and sold by illegals is one way to help fight this very large and ongoing problem.

2. julie said:

I agree that no illegal immigrant should be selling Real Estate but with regards to buying, i'm all for it.If at least 3.000.000 of illegals went out to buy a home today this whole Real Estate crises would be over in a month.They may not save America but they can remove the rope from our necks and put it on their own.

3. Joshua said:

It is written :

" You are to have the same Law for the alien and for the native-born.I am the Lord you God.'" Leviticus 24:22

4. liza said:

you all are a bunch of idiots!!! first of all, some kids were brought here since they were little, they dont know nothing but the american lifestyle!!! Now if you are 20 years old, no crimal charges, christian, graduated high school, doesnt do drugs or anythings!!! if they want to make a living selling houses, why wouldnt you trust a person like that? Obvioulsy they have no choice to lie about a freakin "social security number" and for the record when they go "out there" to buy a social security card, they are $25.00 they are almost $300.00, that's how bad they want to work, and trust me when they are giving away that money it hurts sooo bad knowing that its not real for them, its only a number that they cant do nothing with but work! and try to make the most of it!!! soo all you idiots trying to ruin it for them, get you head out of you asss!!!

5. omayra said:

i do not believe an ilegal imigrant should be able to hold a real esate license. most of the ones i hear about are always doing something shady. how can someone with nolegal ties ties to the comunity, because they give false documents, have accesss to people's personal information. they should be a way of reporting these people so they can be investigated. even if they cannot be deported they can be stopped from further criminal acts, and not be licensed to do so.

6. Umendra Singh said:

Real estate is often express synonymous with sound mazuma (also called realty), in departure with personal wealth.A piece of land, including the air above it and the ground below it, and any buildings or structures on it. also called realty.Real estate is a legal term that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings.

7. Ruperto said:

Amazing. Even if you had all the licencees investigated that will not give Morales more business as he thinks. Several times he has mentioned that his business as Realtor and Loan Officer has decreased because of illegal licencees. He doesn't understands that the sun shines for everyone and he needs to talk crap about others. It's a shame that he was as illegal as other immigrants are now but just because he married an american and gained status again, he forgets where he is comming from and now gives the finger to his own blood, what a shame!.

On the other hand, there's proof that this guy sells real estate to other illegal immigrants and has done loans for them and some other legal persons and has forged documents even FHA loans.

Simply amazing that he still has the guts to preach something he doesn't practices.