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Top-Ranked Immigration Lawyers in Miami, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.219 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked immigration lawyers in Miami, Florida are Kari Ann Fonte (LexRank 84.00), Barry Todd Lieber (84.00) and Gina Maria Polo (84.00).

This ranking lists 19 immigration lawyers in Miami, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 19 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 12 to 46 years in practice. 9 of the 19 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
19
Fully verified
19 of 19

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Kari Ann Fonte

    Fonte Friz-Garcia Immigration Firm, P.L. · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  2. No change

    Barry Todd Lieber

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  3. No change

    Gina Maria Polo

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  4. No change

    Larry Scott Rifkin

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  5. No change

    Carmen R. Arce

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 82.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #4 (Larry Scott Rifkin): Experience −1.2.

  6. No change

    Jorge Raimundo Lopez

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.20 points behind #5, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    0.20 points behind #5 (Carmen R. Arce): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  7. No change

    Carol Ann Bernstein

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  8. No change

    Tammy Fox-Isicoff

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  9. No change

    Linda Marguerite Osberg-Braun

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  10. No change

    Mindy Sakowitz Rodney

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  11. No change

    Kristin D Figueroa-Contreras

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 81.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (27.6/30); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 26.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.00 points behind #10 (Mindy Sakowitz Rodney): Experience −2.4.

  12. No change

    Solimar Santos

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 79.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.60 points behind #11, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    2.60 points behind #11 (Kristin D Figueroa-Contreras): Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  13. No change

    Daniel B Sibirsky

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 78.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.00 points behind #12 (Solimar Santos): Experience −2.4.

  14. No change

    Michael A Harris

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #13 (Daniel B Sibirsky): Experience −1.2.

  15. No change

    Jacob Lawrence Ratzan

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  16. No change

    Isadora Velázquez-Rivas

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  17. No change

    Jacqueline Villalba

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 76.60: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.20 points behind #16, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    0.20 points behind #16 (Isadora Velázquez-Rivas): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  18. No change

    Andrea Montavon-McKillip

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 18 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 75.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (21.6/30). 1.00 points behind #17, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 26.6)

    1.00 points behind #17 (Jacqueline Villalba): Experience −2.4.

  19. No change

    Alexandra Paola Friz-Garcia

    Fonte Friz-Garcia Immigration Firm, P.L. · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 12 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 68.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (14.4/30). 7.20 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 26.6)

    7.20 points behind #18 (Andrea Montavon-McKillip): Experience −7.2.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 19 profile pages230 facts for 19 lawyers

Immigration market in Miami

LexRanked tracks 19 lawyers and 1 law firm in immigration law in Miami, Florida. 19 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 5, 2026.

Lawyers
19
Law firms
1
Verified professional data
19 of 19
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
24 years19 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Miami

What sets these Miami lawyers apart

All 19 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 19 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law 19 of 19
Years in practice 12 to 46 (median 24)
Languages besides English Spanish (9), Portuguese (3), French (1), Italian (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Miami School of Law (5 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Miami office address and immigration as a practice area on record. It compares 19 immigration lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Immigration is federal law, decided by USCIS and the immigration courts, and only lawyers or accredited representatives may give legal advice on it.

Rule What it means
Which law applies Federal immigration law, the same in every state
Who decides U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (applications) and the immigration courts of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (removal cases)
Who may represent you A licensed lawyer or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice (8 C.F.R. § 292.1)
Florida Bar credential Board Certification in Immigration and Nationality Law
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Miami-Dade County is in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

Can a notary help with my immigration case?

No. Only a licensed lawyer or a Department of Justice accredited representative may give legal advice or represent you in immigration matters.

Do I need a Florida lawyer for immigration?

Immigration law is federal, so a lawyer licensed in any U.S. state can handle it; a Florida Bar board-certified lawyer has met Florida's standards in the field.

What does Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 19 of the 19 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Miami?

State court cases in Miami-Dade County are heard in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Immigration cases are decided by USCIS and the federal immigration courts instead.

Are there Spanish-speaking immigration lawyers in Miami?

Yes. 9 of the 19 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

19 of the 19 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Kari Ann Fonte, Barry Todd Lieber, Gina Maria Polo, Larry Scott Rifkin and Carmen R. Arce and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

9 of the 19 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 9 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Immigration Lawyers in Miami, Florida

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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