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Recent Updates
May 07, 2012
US CIS Makes Announcement Regarding Provisional I-601 Waivers
May 07, 2012
New America Media Feature on Transgender Immigrant Detainees
May 01, 2012
El asilo basado en la orientacion sexual ("asilo gay")
October 24, 2011
LGBT Immigration Law Panel at UC Davis Law School
October 03, 2011
Cara Jobson to Speak on Current Issues for LGBT Immigrants
Archives
Gay Marriage and Immigration
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a federal law that defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.?? While same-sex marriages are legal in some U.S. states, the federal government ??? because of DOMA - does not recognize those marriages.??
Because the immigration laws of the United States are written and executed at the federal level, DOMA has prevented gays and lesbians from filing for lawful immigration status for their same-sex spouses.????
On February 23, 2011, the Obama administration announced that it would no longer defend the constitutionality of DOMA in federal court. This is important and heartening news for gay and lesbian immigrants and their families.?? However, it is important for immigrants and their spouses to know that DOMA remains law until Congress repeals the law or until a final court decision is rendered.?? Any federal court decision declaring DOMA unconstitutional is almost certain to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.??
Immigrants who wish to seek permanent residence (a ???green card???) through a same-sex spouse are strongly encouraged to seek legal advice prior to filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.?? Premature filing of a petition could result in the immigrant spouse being placed in removal (???deportation???) proceedings.??
This blog will be updated as the situation evolves.????
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LCCR Asylum Brownbag on June 15, 2011
Posted by: Wiley & Jobson
June 15, 2011
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights hosts "LGBT Asylum Seekers and the 9th Circuit Castro Martinez Decision." Cara Jobson (Wiley and Jobson), Keisha Stanford (Covington & Burling), Noemi Calonje (National Center for Lesbian Rights), and Dusty Araujo (National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities) provide analysis and moderate a discussion of the Ninth Circuit's recent Castro-Martinez decision and its impact on LGBT asylum seekers.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
