Buying Into Tribes Won't Legalize Status, Federal Officials Say

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A non-federally recognized American Indian tribe defended itself Friday for promising Hispanic illegal immigrants legal status if they pay to join.<br/><br/>But advocates and federal

Friday, August 10th 2007, 7:48 pm

By: News On 6

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A non-federally recognized American Indian tribe defended itself Friday for promising Hispanic illegal immigrants legal status if they pay to join.

But advocates and federal officials say it's a scam, and that the group is defrauding people who are desperate to stay in the country.

They say the fraud could cost immigrants thousands of dollars while giving them false hope.

The Nebraska Mexican-American Commission has posted a warning on its Web site after people in four cities were approached with offers to join the Kaweah Indian Nation.

Advocates say they've heard similar stories from people in Kansas, California, Tennessee and Oklahoma.