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Many immigrants to the U.S. have called Florida home over the years. Over 21% of the state’s residents were born outside the country. However, with several anti-immigration laws in the state, sorting through immigrant rights can be a challenge.
We’ve researched the best immigration lawyers in Jacksonville if you need assistance with an immigration matter. Also included is a guide on Florida immigration laws and processes and insights on how an immigration lawyer can help with your case.
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Best Jacksonville Immigration Lawyers
Giselle Carson
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
Florida Coastal School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Stephen H. Davis
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
Cumberland School of Law of Samford University
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Christopher W. Dempsey
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
Creighton University School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
John Gihon
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Lena Korial-Yonan
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Jeremy Lasnetski
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Stefan R. Latorre
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
Florida State University College of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Lori S. Patterson
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
Georgetown University Law Center
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Ian Weldon
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
Florida State University College of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Karen Winston
FL Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to FL Bar
Law School Attended
Florida Coastal School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Compare Top Jacksonville Immigration Attorneys
Immigration Laws in Jacksonville, Florida
While immigration laws are generally set at the federal level, Florida has taken a strict anti-immigration stance in local lawmaking. Here’s what you need to know about immigration laws in Jacksonville.
Who Is Covered by Immigration Laws in Jacksonville, FL?
All people in Jacksonville are subject to federal immigration laws. The most prominent law, the Immigration and Nationality Act, defines immigration policy throughout the country. Federal immigration law sets out immigration pathways, including:
- Naturalized citizenship
- Resident immigrants
- Conditional status immigrants
- Family-sponsored immigrants
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Victims of crime or trafficking
The State of Florida has also adopted immigration laws that apply to Florida residents and visitors, many of which have gathered headlines for their staunch stance against immigration.
Immigrant Rights Under Florida Immigration Laws
Many states have adopted so-called sanctuary laws. These laws typically block local law enforcement from questioning an individual’s immigration status. Some states have also adopted laws intended to protect immigrants from discrimination and harassment.
Florida has taken a different approach. According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Florida’s laws are amongst the most aggressive and comprehensive anti-sanctuary laws in the country. However, immigrants in Jacksonville retain constitutional rights afforded to all individuals in the U.S. Support for immigrant rights can be found through the Florida Immigrant Coalition.
Florida Laws That Impact Immigrants
In 2023, Florida enacted SB 1718, a sweeping bill that added and changed many parts of Florida laws. Here is a summary of the major points from the bill:
- ID restrictions. Created new statutes that ban county and municipality governments from funding the issuance of an identification card to a person who cannot prove they have a lawful presence in the country.
- Invalidated driver’s licenses. Makes a driver’s license issued to an undocumented immigrant by another state invalid in Florida.
- Hospital information collection. Requires all hospitals accepting Medicaid to ask on patient forms whether the patient is in the U.S. lawfully. No process is included for such form data to be reported to immigration authorities.
- Employment penalties. Increases employer penalties for knowingly employing an undocumented immigrant and makes it a third-degree felony for an employee to use false resident documents to gain employment.
- E-Verify expansion. Adds new requirements for employers to verify an employee’s work authorization within three business days of the employee starting work.
- DACA lawyer admission. Repeals a prior Florida law that allowed individuals eligible under the federal government’s deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) immigration process to become licensed attorneys in Florida.
- Transporting undocumented immigrants. Section 10 of the bill, and perhaps the most controversial, broadly makes it a criminal violation to transport someone that the transporter knows, or should have known, entered the U.S. illegally. Violations can be charged as felonies.
- Federal enforcement cooperation. Bans local governments from prohibiting cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and federal authorities.
- DNA database. Requires a person in law enforcement custody with an ICE hold on their record to provide a DNA sample.
SB 1718 has been challenged in legal actions by several groups, including the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) and the Southern Poverty Law Center. In May 2024, a federal judge issued an injunction temporarily blocking Section 10 of the bill from being enforced.
Filing Process for Immigration in Jacksonville, FL
There are many pathways available for immigrants seeking to come to Jacksonville. The most common include:
- Work visas
- Family sponsorship
- Student visas
- Investment
- Asylum
Each of these pathways has pros and cons. All can be time consuming and require you to navigate confusing technical requirements. Working with an immigration lawyer can help you decide the best pathway for your circumstances and ensure your documentation is filed correctly.
How Can an Immigration Attorney Help You in Jacksonville?
An immigration lawyer brings expertise in this highly specialized area of law. In addition to valuable knowledge, they can advocate for you and help you understand the process as it unfolds. Here are a few important ways your immigration lawyer will help with your case:
- Strategy development. From determining your eligibility for visas to helping you find the best pathway forward, a qualified immigration attorney can evaluate your unique case effectively.
- Documentation prep. Applying for visas or residency status requires complicated applications and supporting documents. Your lawyer will help ensure your application is complete and doesn’t include mistakes that could delay or derail your process.
- Advocacy. Even in the best situations, you may encounter obstacles along the way. An immigration lawyer can discuss your case with government agency employees to help move things along. They can also represent you in formal proceedings before immigration courts.
These benefits can make the cost of hiring a lawyer worthwhile.
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How To Choose the Best Immigration Lawyer in Jacksonville, FL
Once you’ve decided to hire a lawyer, you must find someone you can trust with your case. Keep an eye out for these characteristics when evaluating attorneys.
- Immigration expertise. Not all lawyers have experience in immigration law, and even those who do may not have experience with all case types. Look for a lawyer who has experience handling matters similar to your situation.
- Clear fee structure. Lawyer fees can vary depending on factors like the lawyer’s experience level and the complexity of your case. Having the lawyer explain exactly how they charge and what you’ll be expected to pay for before you begin working with them is important.
- Solid reputation. Ask for reviews from prior clients or search online reviews to get a sense of how pleased clients have been working with them.
Our Methodology for Finding the Best Jacksonville Immigration Attorneys
Forbes Advisor considered many factors to determine the best immigration lawyers in Jacksonville of 2024. Its mathematical analysis considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses and certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education and employment background
- Scholarly lectures and writings
- Awards and honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. However, this information should not be considered comprehensive. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Immigration
How much does an immigration lawyer cost in Jacksonville?
How many immigrants are in Jacksonville, FL?
Can undocumented immigrants get a driver’s license in Jacksonville?
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Contributor
Victoria writes about people management, legal practice, technology, and the future of work. Her diverse career has included experience as a US employment lawyer and various roles in human resource management, including a strategic HR role at The Walt Disney Company. Now living in the UK, Victoria provides unique insights on the world of work in the US, UK, and EU.
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