Meet Tatiane Maakaroun Silva | Immigration Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tatiane Maakaroun Silva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tatiane, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston S. Churchill

I love this quote because to me it means that even if you are successful, you need to keep working at it. Being too comfortable can make a person complacent, and complacent people do not grow. Success is only limited to one’s ability to change, improve and to try new things. If you become stagnant and do not recognize when changes are needed, you will be left behind and risk loosing your success. The quote also means that even when we fail, it does not mean it is the end. Success without failure is not the most important thing, but to get up every time life knocks you down is. Persistency is key. Without it, I would not be where I am. People have told me I would not be able to fulfill my dream of becoming an attorney because I did not speak English when I moved to the United States as a child, or because of my immigration status. However, I pushed through, and it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I am an immigration attorney, and I am the Managing Partner of my firm, Murray & Silva, P.A. We are a Miami based law firm, but we represent clients throughout the United States and abroad. Although running a law firm and overseeing hundreds of cases is not easy, it is an extremely rewarding profession. Through my law firm, I am able to help members of our community by achieving almost every immigrant’s dream when they come to the United States: legal immigration status.

I became partner of my firm after working at the firm as an Associate Attorney for about 1 year. Although my path was not easy and it required a lot of hard work and dedication, it was definitely worth it! I had to overcome several challenges to get to where I am, both before and after owning my law firm. As an immigrant myself, I had to learn English when I came to this country as a child. I also had to deal with issues relating to my own immigration status, which is one of my motivations in my professional life.

Many professionals and business owners do not enjoy what they do, but do not see other options in their careers. So I can definitely say I am fortunate that I love what I do. It is a stressful job, I’m not going to lie. But at the end of the day, when you do work that you are passionate about, the joy and fulfillment overcome the challenges. Immigration law is constantly changing, which is extremely challenging. Situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in administration, etc., all affect my work. However, I cannot give up. Our work is too important to our clients and our community, so we keep fighting for our clients and take one day at a time.

I have learned many lessons along the way, not only as a professional, but as a human being as well. After listening to so many of my clients’ traumatizing stories, I have learned to be grateful for my own personal story and to empathize more with others. Some of them have gone through so much at their home countries and have risked their lives for a better future in the United States. However, they are always doing the best they can for themselves and their families. I have also learned how much we can impact people’s lives. I have clients who contact me almost daily after we have their cases approved, or after winning their cases in court. Their sincere happiness and gratitude for our work and how it has impacted their lives make me want to be a better professional and to never give up.

In today’s society, where immigration is such a polarizing issue, I would like for people to know that the vast majority of immigrants are hard workers. They are your neighbors, your doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers and first responders, lawyers, etc. They serve in the military to protect our country. They are here to add value to our community, and not to hurt it. In regards to my business, I would also want the world to know that we are a firm who loves what we do and that we are passionate about our jobs. We understand that our work affects peoples’ lives, so we take it extremely seriously. With compassion, hard work and care, we continue to help the lives of countless people in our community. My story is living proof that with hard work and dedication, anyone, independent of where they come from, can achieve their dreams.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Miami is such a multi-cultural diverse place, that it is hard to pick just a few things to do. I love going out to ear, so if my best friend was visiting the area for a week long trip, I would take her to lots of restaurants. On Monday, we could visit the beautiful Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. After that, we could have dinner at Fogo de Chao in Miami Beach. On Tuesday, we could go to Wynwood to check out the art shops and the graffiti art. We could have lunch at Suviche and dinner at Wayku. On Wednesday, we could visit Hialeah and experience one of their amazing food tours. It is a great way to learn more about the city and culture, while eating some delicious food. On Thursday, I would take her to Bayside, where we can do a little shopping. We would grab a quick bite at The Lido Bayside Grill and go on a sightseeing cruise. After that, we could have dinner at Komodo in the Brickell area. On Friday, we would have brunch Tap42 at the Aventura Mall and do some shopping. After that, for dinner, I would take her to Cvi.Che 105 and catch a movie. On Saturday, we would most likely go to the beach. I enjoy the beach by Sunny Isles, because it is a not as busy as the beaches around the South Beach area, and there it is easier to find parking. We would probably order some food to be delivered at the beach. I normally order from El Tayta, which is delicious. After the beach, we could eat at Baires Grill or Timo. Sunday would probably be another beach day, because just one beach day in Miami is not enough. We would have a fun beach day riding jet-skis and doing water sports. After a long beach day, I would suggesting ordering some food at the Tipsy Boar in Hollywood.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I would like to dedicate my first shoutout to my amazing and supportive family. My career requires a lot from me – my time, attention, and dedication. My husband has supported me financially and emotionally throughout my journey until I became an attorney, and this support was vital for me. Without my husband’s support and my children’s love and understanding, I would probably not be where I am today.

I would also like to dedicate another shoutout to my amazing team! I sincerely have the best team of paralegals and office staff, and we would not be able to achieve the amazing results we are able to achieve without them. They really care about each and every client like their own families. They work hard and are also passionate about what they do. Not to mention how smart and competent they are. I am very proud of my team.

Website: www.murraysilva.com

Instagram: murraysilvalaw

Linkedin: Tatiane M. Silva, Esq.

Facebook: Murray & Silva, P.A.