Tag: gay marriage

Board of Immigration Appeals Affirms Same-Sex Marriage

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July 20, 2013
Earlier this week, the Board of Immigration Appeals affirmed the sweeping-change in immigration law that the Windsor decision ushered in.  In Matter of Zeleniak, 26 I.&N. Dec. 158 (BIA 2013), the Board recognized that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Windsor, was not an impediment to recognition of same-sex marriage by immigration authorities.   In Zeleniak, U.S.

Equality Under Immigration Laws Being Implemented and Realized

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July 1, 2013
Equality Under Immigration Laws Being Implemented and Realized The Supreme Court rocked the world last week by declaring Section III of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional on equal protection grounds.  Section III forbade the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.  Thus, a legal same-sex marriage entered into in New York was valid under NY law, but did not provide the married couple with any federal benefits.  Activists have identified over 1100 ways that federal law provides a benefit to a married couple, all of which were unavailable until Wednesday, June 26, when Section III of DOMA was officially bid adieu.