Miami Immigration & Naturalization Law Blog

Florida police officer killed by wrong way driver

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, February 22, 2019.

Although nearly every Miami area resident will be involved in a car accident at least once during their lives, most accidents are not serious. When a serious accident does occur, a family can feel overwhelmed with grief and with the unexpected financial burden the accident may cause. A fatal car accident is life-changing for everyone involved.

According to recent reports, a police officer is dead following an accident on Alligator Alley. The accident occurred near the toll plaza in Broward County when the officer was off-duty and on the way home. He was hit head-on by a driver traveling the wrong way on I-75. The officer was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. The accident is still under investigation to see if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the deadly crash.

Mistakes immigrants make on legal documents

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.

Many Miami area residents are from another country. These residents often need to fill out immigration forms. These U.S. immigration forms can be long and confusing, especially for those who are not very familiar with the process. There are some serious mistakes that an immigrant can make on their paperwork.

One serious mistake immigrants make on their immigration paperwork is failing to sign a document. If there isn't a signature, the document is rejected. Another mistake is when a person uses outdated forms. Immigration forms are constantly changing, so it is important for a person to make sure they are using the most up-to-date form. When filling out the forms, it is important that every section is completely filled out, as having a blank part of a questionnaire will not suffice. The forms need to be legibly completed in black ink, and correction liquids and highlighters are not allowed. If corrections need to be made, a new form should be filled out. Each form needs to include a person's full name, date of birth and Alien number. And an immigrant needs to pay the correct fee for their petition.

Florida construction worker killed on the job

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

When Miami residents go to work each day, they expect they will do their job and come home at the end of the day. Most of the time this is what happens for workers in Miami, but occasionally a fatal workplace accident occurs. A workplace accident can happen to anyone, but some jobs are more dangerous than others.

According to recent reports, a construction worker was recently killed near Winter Park. The worker was doing construction on the massive highway project in Central Florida along Interstate 4. Other workers were moving a drainage pipe when it fell and hit the victim in the head. He died because of the injury.

USCIS processing immigration services at slow pace

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Many Miami residents are currently living in the country as immigrants. Many of these immigrants are in the process of putting together the necessary paperwork to remain in the U.S. as a citizen. A recent analysis of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is showing that they have a record backlog of immigration cases which are being processed at a slow rate.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association has come out with a report that states that the backlog of immigration cases that are being processed by the USCIS is at a crisis level. The association states that in 2014 the average immigration case took just under five months to process. But, in 2018, the average immigration case took over nine months to process, which is a 91 percent increase. The association states that the USCIS is processing the forms much more slowly despite there not being an increase in immigration cases. There is currently an estimate of a backlog of 2.3 million cases, which is the highest number on record. The American Immigration Lawyers Association is advising the USCIS to be more transparent with their processes and for more congressional oversight.

Rapper held for alleged immigration violations

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

Miami, and Florida in general, is an area with many immigrants. These immigrants are important members of our society, serving in many roles. They have jobs, are students and contribute culturally to our economy. But, immigrants need to be sure that they comply with applicable laws. Recently, a rapper was taken into custody for immigration violations.

Rapper "21 Savage," a Grammy-nominated artist, was recently taken into custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE alleges that the rapper, who is from the U.K., entered the U.S. on a one year visa in 2005 and has overstayed his visa. He is not eligible for DACA because he dropped out of high school and has a criminal record. His attorney says that his client has never hid his immigration status and has applied for a U visa, which is for those who are victims of a crime. His attorney also says he is being held under incorrect information regarding criminal charges in the past. He also has American-born children, which can help his immigration status. If he is deported, he will be banned from the U.S. for 10 years.

Deadly crash in Deerfield Beach kills 16-year-old

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

Driving in the Miami area is usually a safe endeavor. Drivers understand the importance of safe driving and not engaging in dangerous activities. Unfortunately, not everyone follows the rules. The increase of dangerous driving is frightening. Drivers are continuing to text, speed, talk on the phone, check social media and engage in other dangerous behaviors. These activities can lead to a serious accident and wrongful death situation in just a few seconds.

According to reports, a 16-year-old girl from Pompano Beach was recently killed in an accident in Deerfield Beach. The girl was parked along the side of Interstate 95 when she was struck by an out-of-control driver. The driver had struck many construction barrels and a guardrail and then struck the teenager's car. Upon impact, her car burst into flames. The other driver was taken to Broward Health Medical Center. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Are you facing deportation? You may not have to leave the U.S.

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Immigrants are valuable members of our society, serving in important employment roles and community organizations and events. Sometimes, immigrants are not in the U.S. legally and are facing deportation. Those who are facing deportation should know that they may not need to leave the U.S.

Immigrants to the U.S. come here to build a better life for themselves and their family. Depending on a person's situation, there are various options they may be able to use to avoid deportation. Foreign nationals may be able to appeal certain deportation rulings. While they are in the appeals process they can apply for a stay on their deportation. A person may also want to see if they could be eligible for a green card. They may qualify because they have immediate relatives who are citizens. Or, they can apply for asylum if they have a credible fear of persecution or torture in their home country.

A car accident in Florida can result in a loved one's death

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Most drivers in the Miami area understand how important it is to drive safely. An accident can be serious and unexpected. Those who have loved ones involved in a fatal accident understand that their lives may forever be changed.

Luckily, most car accidents in the Miami area are minor fender-benders. But, occasionally a serious accident occurs that alters lives forever. A family's loved one may have been the breadwinner or a special caregiver and now they have died because of a car accident. Many times, these fatal car accidents are the result of a negligent driver. A driver may have made the mistake of driving while distracted by their cell phone, checking their text messages or social media, or engaging in dangerous behavior such as speeding.

What factors can negatively affect a green card status?

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

There are many immigrants in the Miami area. These immigrants are a valuable backbone for the Florida community, owning many businesses, participating in community events and creating a better life for themselves and their family. Those who have been granted a green card to become a permanent resident should understand what could possibly affect their status.

There are a few ways in which green card holders can lose their status. One is if they permanently move to another country or live abroad without proving that it was a temporary absence. A temporary absence needs to be proven by giving a reason for the trip, showing how long a person intends to be gone from the U.S. and any other circumstance surrounding the absence. Green card holders may also want to obtain a re-entry permit from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services before they leave to show that they are only planning for a temporary absence. A person can also lose their permanent residence status if they fail to file income taxes while living outside the U.S. or if they declare themselves a non-immigrant on their tax returns.

Tesla facing lawsuit after crash kills teenage boy

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

When a family chooses a car to purchase, its safety rating is often a top concern. No one wants to drive an unsafe car. Luckily, most car manufacturers understand the importance of making sure their cars have all of the important safety features installed to ensure their customers are safe while on the road. Unfortunately, a family in Aventura has recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a car manufacturer, Tesla, alleging that Tesla is responsible for the death of their son because of a Tesla worker removing a safety device on the car.

According to the reports, in 2014, two teenage boys were driving a Tesla Model S at a high rate of speed when they lost control going around a curve on Seabreeze Boulevard and hit a concrete barrier. Upon impact with the concrete wall, the car burst into flames, killing both boys. The parents of one of the boys had installed a speed control device on the Tesla that would not allow the car to go more than 85 miles per hour. The car was taken into a local service center for some routine maintenance when an employee removed the device without telling the parents. The parents say that if they knew the device had been removed they would not have allowed their son to drive the car. The teen's parents also allege that the Tesla had a faulty battery that was prone to catching fire. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Broward County against Tesla and the car manufacturer employee.