Lawyers demand immigration fair audit

The Immigration Law Committee of the National Bar Association (CNA) requested an audit of the funds raised by the National Immigration Service in migration fairs with allegations that funds were transferred to President Ricardo Martinelli’s Discretionary Fund.

The Association also claimed that, according to the International Organization for Migration, 70 % of foreigners legalized through the program management had no work permit.

Irma Arauz, a spokeswoman for the commission said it wants to know exactly the amount of money received for the 11 Migration fairs held since 2010 , and the allocation of these funds.
Counsel said that, apparently, some of the resources were allocated to the discretionary amount allocated to the office of President Ricardo Martinelli who has distributed more unaudited money than any of his predecessors,
Arauz said that they require detailed knowledge of the whereabouts of these funds. She stated that during fairs people were admitted who were related to activities like drug trafficking, stolen cars and financing of terrorism, which endangers national security.
The Commission also reported that the current immigration administration openly promoted the management of immigration procedures without a lawyer, in violation of Law 208 which regulates the National Service of Immigration and Law 9 of 18 April 1984 on the exercise of the profession.