Miami Immigration & Naturalization Law Blog

Beef recalled after nationwide outbreak of salmonella

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, December 13, 2018.

Sometimes, it seems like the food supply in Florida is constantly being recalled. There have been numerous recalls lately for romaine lettuce, chicken, pasta salad and many more food items. A major recall was just announced for raw beef, which can lead to a person's unexpected illness.

Hundreds of people across the United States have been sickened due to a salmonella outbreak. More than 2,500 tons of raw beef is being recalled after an initial recall of 3,500 tons of potentially contaminated beef. JBS Tolleson has issued the recall for the beef, which has been sold in many national retailers, including Sam's Club, Walmart and Laura's Lean. There have been at least 246 people who have been sickened by the beef.

Asylum denials have greatly increased

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Thursday, December 13, 2018.

As Americans have been hearing for months, many immigrants to the United States have applied for asylum so that they can stay in this country. These immigrants have come to the United States because they are no longer safe in their home country. A recent report has indicated that many asylum seekers in the U.S. are being denied.

The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) has released a report saying that 86 percent of asylum applications were denied during the 2018 fiscal year, which ended in September. This is the highest denial rate in the Miami area since at least 2001. Miami courts heard the second largest number of asylum cases, behind New York.

Cyclist killed by distracted driver

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, December 6, 2018.

Most Miami area residents understand the importance of safe driving. But, many drivers out there still make fatal mistakes while they are behind the wheel. Distracted driving is a completely preventable action that can cause a tragic accident in seconds. A recent tragic accident in Davie has left one person dead.

One person has died when a group of cyclists was hit by a distracted driver. A group of around 14 cyclists was traveling on Southwest 148th Avenue when they were hit by a driver. The driver says she was distracted by something in her car and did not see the cyclists until it was too late. Two of the cyclists were taken to Broward Health Medical Center where one died and another suffered serious injuries. Three other cyclists suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

What is asylum in immigration?

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Wednesday, December 5, 2018.

One can hardly turn the news on these days without hearing about asylum. Every day, there is another story about immigrants who are wanting to seek asylum in the United States. There are many Miami residents who understand these immigrants struggle, while others may not even understand what asylum means.

Asylum is an immigration term that has become popular recently. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services says that asylum is a status for those who are refugees and already in the United States because of a fear of persecution from the country they have left.

Brakes causing problems for GM vehicles

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Products Liability on Thursday, November 29, 2018.

Cars are necessary forms of transportation for many Miami residents. We need vehicles to get us to our jobs, see our families, go to the store, church, etc. Most car manufacturers understand the importance of safety when they build their cars and make sure their cars are safe. Unfortunately, sometimes there are automobile design defects that result in unexpected accidents and injuries.

Safety investigators are investigating allegations of GM vehicles that are unexpectedly having trouble braking. Over 100 complaints from consumers about GMC trucks and SUVs, including the popular Chevrolet Silverado have emerged. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the problem comes from a power brake vacuum pump that can degrade and make it difficult to stop. The agency reports there have already been 9 crashes related to these brake problems. The investigation includes the Chevrolet Silverado along with the Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Yukon and the Escalade. The vehicles have not been recalled yet and GM is monitoring the investigation.

Information regarding dual citizenship

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in citizenship on Thursday, November 29, 2018.

There are some residents of the Miami area who hold dual citizenship with another country. These residents have legal rights in both countries, yet there can be legal complications that often arise with dual citizenship. There are several ways in which a person can acquire dual citizenship in the United States along with several ways in which they can lose their United States citizenship. Those who have dual citizenship or are interested in acquiring it should learn this important information.

There are many ways in which a person can acquire dual citizenship in the United States. They can be born in the United States to parents who are from another country. Or they could be born in another country to parents who are United States citizens. They can also become a citizen of the U.S. while holding on to a citizenship in another country or they can regain citizenship in their country of origin after becoming a United States citizen. Interestingly enough, the U.S. does not recognize dual citizenship, but it will also not take away a person's United States citizenship, if they have a citizenship in another country.

Legislation introduced to protect H-1B spouses

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Employment Immigration on Thursday, November 22, 2018.

There are many foreign workers in the Miami area on an H-1B visa. This visa allows for people from other countries to work in the United States. An H-1B visa is an important visa for many companies in the United States, especially for employing technical workers. Legislation recently introduced in Congress is aimed to help spouses of H-1B visa holders.

The spouses of H-1B visa holders are usually granted an H-4 visa. This visa allows the spouses to live and work in the U.S. as well. But the Trump administration has said that it would like to eliminate the H-4 visa by the end of the year.

Police officer charged with manslaughter after fatal car crash

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, November 22, 2018.

The unexpected death of a loved one is a terrible event in the life of a family. No one expects their loved one will be killed by another person's negligence, especially in a fatal car crash. Unfortunately, many Miami drivers do not follow safe driving practices and engage in risky behavior, such as speeding. And, those who should know better, like police officers, are not exempt from bad driving.

A Miami-Dade police officer was recently charged with vehicular manslaughter for crashing into another car while speeding. The officer was driving at double the speed limit and went through a stop sign where he hit another car. The car that was hit was a crumpled mess, and its driver died at the scene. The police officer's black box showed that he was driving 78 mph in a 40-mph zone. It also appeared he did not have his headlights on or his police lights and siren and was not responding to a call at the time of the accident.

Lawsuit seeks to stop immigration agents from boarding buses

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

Miami residents understand that immigrants are the backbone of Florida. Many of us are from another country and appreciate the opportunities that the U.S. brings to its residents. Immigration policies are constantly changing these days, and a recent lawsuit against Greyhound bus services highlights the struggles immigrants face.

A California woman is suing Greyhound bus lines for allowing federal immigration agents to board its buses and check for citizenship on its passengers. The lawsuit alleges that the country's largest motor coach operator violates consumer protection laws that bar unfair and unlawful practices. Greyhound does this by consenting to racial profiling by law enforcement, even though they say they do not discriminate. Many civil rights groups and labor unions are urging transportation companies to stop allowing immigration officials to check citizenship of their passengers and guests.

Lime scooters recalled for danger of breaking apart

On behalf of Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A. posted in Products Liability on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

Electric scooters are becoming more and more popular in Miami and in other cities around Florida. The scooters are a fun way to get around town in a quicker way than walking. But, one brand of rental electric scooters have been recalled because of the risk of falling apart which is making it a products liability risk.

Lime scooters, one of the companies operating in area, has issued a recall for an unspecified amount of scooters because of the risk of them breaking apart. The scooters made by Okai have the possibility of the baseboard cracking or breaking when they are ridden over a curb. Lime has said they will replace the scooters, with newer and more advanced models. Lime has faced criticism in the past about how quickly they respond to safety concerns.