The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently turned to Florida immigration attorney Ira Kurzban's "Immigration Law Sourcebook" in interpreting derivative citizenship as a defense to a federal crime. The case involved a man who sought to challenge his convictions of two federal charges because his criminal defense attorney failed to raise the man's derivative U.S. citizenship as a defense to the alleged crimes based upon allegations that the man had lied about being a U.S. citizen on an application to purchase a firearm.
Miami Marlin relief pitcher struggling with work visa issue
Pitchers and catchers are reporting to Florida for spring training. Absent from the Miami Marlins' training camp this year is Juan Carlos Ovieda, due to a snag in immigration. Many Florida marlins fans know the relief pitcher by the name Leo Nunez, who allegedly used a fake name to play pro ball. Now the Major League ball player is caught up in an immigration issue. He is working on obtaining a work visa to allow him to re-enter the country to rejoin his teammates at spring training.
USCIS announces Entrepreneurs in Residence program for immigration
U.S. immigration officials held a summit earlier this week to introduce an initiative dubbed "Entrepreneurs in Residence." Many entrepreneurs have studied in the United States, only to take that education overseas to start businesses that compete against U.S ideas.
Ecuadorean journalist flees to Miami, seeks asylum in US
A journalist from Ecuador fled from his native country in August with his family after receiving threats from people allied with the president of Ecuador. The journalist is now seeking asylum in the United States, claiming that he is the victim of persecution aimed at stifling free expression in Ecuador, according to his petition in immigration court in Miami.
College student seeks to renew asylum defense
A 21-year-old university student in the Pacific Northwest is sitting in immigration limbo. He was brought into the United States as a baby after his father was gunned down by police in the family's native country. The young man has only known the United States as his home. He had come here with his mother, who was deported when the young man was in high school. Technically, the college student has been under an order for deportation for seven years.
Feds settle civil rights, ICE raid suit with New Haven residents targeted in immigration raids
The United States Government has agreed to fork over damages and halt deportation and removal proceedings against a group of New Haven residents snared in a 2007 residential immigration raid. The government says the settlement in the immigration-related federal court litigation is not an admission of liability for the warrantless immigration raids that occurred in a predominantly Latino neighborhood on the Eastern Seaboard.
DHS proposes to reform H-1B and F-1 visa rules
The Department of Homeland Security has recently proposed changes in employment immigration rules under the H-1B specialty occupation visa and F-1 academic student visa programs to make the programs more attractive to highly-skilled foreign students and workers.
Federal court requests ICE clarification in deportation cases
A federal appeals court has requested that the Obama administration clarify its policy on prosecutorial discretion in several individual deportation proceedings. The appellate rulings did not arise in cases here in Florida, but the unusual orders have caught the eye of many people interested in immigration issues nationwide.
Hospital denies life saving surgery to immigrant
The story of one undocumented immigrant from Mexico reads like some kind of odd application of the Perfect Storm. Multiple forces have stacked up against the man's very survival. The story does not come from here in Florida, but from the West Coast. An immigration I-9 audit of the company where the man worked resulted in the immigrant finding himself without a job. The man has been undergoing dialysis for roughly eight years due to kidney failure. Doctors say that the life-expectancy of someone in his condition is about six years.
In-state tuition bill for Florida children of immigrants hits roadblock
The Florida Senate Higher Education Committee dashed hopes for the in-state college tuition bill aimed at allowing Florida residents who are the children of undocumented immigrants to receive equal treatment in college and university tuition. A lifelong resident of Florida, who is also a U.S. citizen, spoke before the panel encouraging the lawmakers to move the measure forward.
