Miami Office: 4011 W Flagler Street, Ste. 406 Coral Gables, FL 33134 Clewiston Office: 518 E Sugarland Hwy, Clewiston, FL 33440 Serving Immigrants
March 2019
www.servingimmigrants.com • (305) 924-1133 • (863) 599-4101 • + 52 984 233 8585
MEET ROBERTO RUIZ ESTRELLA Our Legal Counsel inMexico
For this month’s edition, I want to highlight our office and working attorney in Mexico. I know how important it is for our clients immigrating to America to have someone help them through the complicated procedures within the legal field. Having an additional office and teamwill give Cuprys & Associates the means to give our clients advice and direction during some of the most trying times they face.
Mexican legal system and his genuine desire to do his best on each and every case he works on. Roberto is a huge asset to our firm.
Roberto and Magdalena met through legal work. Roberto served as our notary in Mexico, which is how his working relationship with Magda began. “After serving as a notary and getting to know Magda,” he recalls, “I knew we could work very well together. One day, she mentioned she had some properties in Mexico that she wanted to rent out through Airbnb. I told her I’d take care of it. I must’ve done all right because she offered me a job not long after.” In his work with our firm, Roberto appreciates the chance to work alongside Magda and increase his knowledge. “Magda is an incredibly dynamic person,” he says. “She has passion and cares about her clients like family. I also learn so much from her. The law is so different in the States, and I appreciate being able to study those differences with somebody who’s an expert in American immigration law.” When he’s not working, you can find Roberto relaxing, watching Netflix, and enjoying the beauty of Tulum. We are so fortunate to be able to work with Roberto. He’s our man in Mexico, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
–Magdalena Cuprys
Our work helping immigrants often requires dealing with both the Mexican and American legal systems. We probably don’t need to tell you how differently the law operates in these two neighboring countries, but we would like to share how we navigate the gulf between them. Roberto Ruiz Estrella, our legal counsel in Mexico, is crucial to this process. We’ve recently expanded our offices to two branches: two in Florida and one in Tulum, Mexico, where Roberto is certified to practice law. We can now reach more immigrants needing guidance through the legal process of becoming a citizen, and with Roberto on our team, our ability to assist immigrants increases tenfold. His experience and expertise give each of our clients the assurance that their legal team understands all aspects of their case. We value his familiarity with the
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3 WAYS TO HONOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Regardless of your gender, March 8 is the perfect time to tune in to the larger conversation surrounding gender inequality, if you haven’t already. This could mean attending meetings or demonstrations in your town, reading works that capture the female struggle for equality, such as Roxane Gay’s “Difficult Women,” or seeking out blogs and social media accounts from gender equality activists online. International Women’s Day is about appreciating the contributions of women to society and envisioning a more equal world for the future. However you decide to celebrate women this March, keep in mind that no matter who you are or where you come from, we all have the power to change our world for the better.
Theft is a serious matter, made even more grave when the victims are fallen war heroes. Such was the situation that stumped police in Hudson, New York, in 2012. The crime was first committed in July of the previous year. Flags had been placed around the graves of soldiers in Cedar Park Cemetery — only to go missing right around Independence Day. Veterans groups and locals were outraged and mystified by the crime. Some worried that a hate group was to blame, as the missing flags had adorned the graves of Jewish soldiers. Veterans worked to replace the flags, one by one, and right the wrong. No culprit was found, and the community moved on — until the following July, when the mystery repeated itself. Like the year before, flags were placed on veterans’ graves in honor of Independence Day, and again, they went missing sometime in the night, this time taken from the graves of African American Civil War soldiers. Cemetery caretaker and veteran Vincent Wallace was appalled, as was the rest of his On March 8, people around the world will honor International Women’s Day. Adopted by the United Nations in 1975, the holiday is meant to highlight the immeasurable accomplishments of women throughout history and draw attention to the ongoing struggle for global gender equality. International Women’s Day is celebrated differently around the world. Some nations, like Nepal, give all their citizens the day off. Most countries, however, including the United States, treat it as a normal day, at least officially. Even though we don’t have the day off, there are many ways for everyone to honor International Women’s Day this year. Here are a few of them. TALK ABOUT THE WOMENWHO INSPIRE YOU From major innovators, like Ada Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer, to megalithic literary icons, like Maya Angelou, women throughout history have shaped how we live our lives. Whether you’re inspired by famous historical figures or the women in your own life, take the time An Inside Job
to talk about that influence. Which women helped get you where you are today? What female leaders do you look up to? What are some lessons you’ve learned from them? MAKE ROOM FOR CONVERSATION IN THE WORKPLACE Many of the challenges women face globally happen in the workplace. If you think your company has room for improvement in its treatment of women, now is a great time to do something about it. Even if you believe your company treats women and men equally, there’s no harm in empowering your colleagues to talk to give their opinions. If you’re an employer, this could mean giving women in your workplace an avenue to discuss issues, air grievances, and make suggestions. If you’re an employee, consider asking for such a forum. In either case, providing both public and anonymous avenues for women to express themselves is a great way for your company to take a step forward in fostering gender equality.
The Curious Case of the Disappearing Flags
community. “I just can’t comprehend the mindset that would allow someone to do this,”Wallace said.
Turns out Punxsutawney Phil has some very naughty cousins —ones who aren’t subject to the law.
Determined to find out who was to blame, police put up surveillance cameras and recorded the goings-on in the cemetery. As they watched the tapes, sure enough, they saw one of the culprits sitting atop a gravestone with an empty flagpole in front of him. It was a groundhog. Apparently, the wooden flagpoles attract groundhogs, something other groundskeepers have experienced as well. “I’m glad we don’t have someone who has taken it upon themselves to desecrate the stones and the flags in front of them,”said Hudson mayor Bill Hallenbeck.“We can all rest a little easier knowing that it was a critter and not a human defacing
our flags, especially those of the veterans,”added Hudson’s police commissioner.
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TAX SEASON Don’t Forgo Your Taxes
With only a few weeks left of tax season, everyone is either scrambling to get their documents together or has already filed. If you’re undocumented in the United States, it’s important to know that you still need to file your taxes. Many may think they don’t have to file because they’re not official citizens. However, if you have a green card or have spent the last 31 days in the U.S. in a tax year or over 183 days over the span of three tax years without a green card, you’ll be required to pay taxes. Keep in mind that while you’re filing your taxes, you are paying for any income tax you have, but only on the money you make in the U.S. The most important thing you can do while filing your taxes is to be completely honest while filing the documents. Don’t declare people who are not actually your dependents and don’t lend out your dependents to someone else. A dependent, as defined by the IRS, is “a person other than the taxpayer or spouse who entitles the taxpayer to claim a dependency exception.” Additionally, be sure to not underreport any income you’re receiving. The IRS will discover it within the next year, and once they do, you will be penalized with significant fees and interest. File your income taxes accurately the first time and avoid future stress and hefty fines. If you’re having a difficult time navigating your
tax documents, there are people who can help you. The IRS has volunteer programs to help certain individuals with their tax preparations, filing, and documentation.
TAKE A BREAK
EVERYTHING POPCORN Everything is the best bagel flavor. This is not amatter of debate. Sprinkle the seasoning on popcorn for a delicious snack that will have people asking, “What does this remindme of?”
Ingredients
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3/4 cup popcorn kernels
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2 teaspoons granulated garlic
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2 tablespoons flaky sea salt
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2 teaspoons granulated onion
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1 teaspoon black sesame seeds
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1/3 cup canola oil
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2 teaspoons white sesame seeds
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4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Directions
1. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds. Shake skillet often and cook until white seeds are golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and add garlic, onion, and salt. 2. In a large saucepan, combine popcorn kernels and oil. Cook over medium-high heat, covered, until popcorn kernels start to pop. Once popping, continue cooking and shaking the pan intermittently until popping ceases, about 3–5 minutes.
3. Transfer popcorn to a large mixing bowl. Pour in butter and toss to coat. Finally, add seasoning, toss again, and serve.
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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CUPRYS & ASSOCIATES www.servingimmigrants.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
4011 W. Flagler Street, Suite 406 Miami, FL . 33134
INSIDE THIS EDITION Our Third Office in Mexico PAGE 1 3 Ways to Honor International Women’s Day PAGE 2 The Curious Case of the Disappearing Flags PAGE 2 Doing It Right PAGE 3 Everything Popcorn PAGE 3 Don’t Let the Rain Dampen Your Spirits PAGE 4
4 RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES
Enjoy Yourself!
As the weather warms up, the urge to get out of the house becomes stronger. However, any plans you might have can be abruptly canceled due to rain. If you find yourself stuck inside for the day, here are a few activities to keep you occupied. GET BAKIN’ A wet and chilly day is an excellent opportunity to warm yourself up with some baked goods. Bake your favorite snickerdoodle cookies or fudge brownies, and pour yourself a mug full of hot chocolate or cider to get through the stormy day. READ A BOOK If you have a bookshelf full of novels you’ve not cracked open, a rainy day is the perfect time to jump in. Settle down on the sofa with a cuddly blanket and enjoy some uninterrupted reading. The rain smattering against your windows creates the perfect background noise to delve into the pages of a new adventure. CREATE YOUR OWN FILM FESTIVAL Having a movie or TV series marathon is another great way to pass the time. You can watch some of the classics, like “Forrest Gump” or “Singing in the Rain,” fill the day with “The Lord of the Rings” series, or start a new Netflix show. If you want to involve your kids in the binge-watching, you can let them pick out one of their favorite movies too.
PIECE TOGETHER A PUZZLE A rainy day is a great opportunity to pull out a puzzle. You can also grab your friends or family members and make the puzzle a team activity. With the whole day ahead of you, you’ll have several hours to devote to one of your favorite hobbies.
Don’t let the rain keep you down! Instead, take advantage of the weather and enjoy a cozy day at home.
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