A Long Journey for Justice: the Continuing Fight for LGBT Immigrants
As the nation rejoiced after the Supreme Court ruling on Obergefell v. Hodges, I recalled the celebrations at AILA’s 2013 annual conference in San Francisco on the day that the Supreme Court decided Windsor v. Connecticut. Windsor and subsequent Department of...
The Queer Community’s Road to Equality
In June 2013, SCOTUS helped turn a page in the queer community’s struggle for civil rights. By striking a pertinent portion of the indefensible Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the Justices cleared the way for LGBTQ citizens of this country to strive for full equality...
The United States Must Do Better for Same-Sex Partners of Asylum Grantees
Through established asylum and refugee laws, the United States offers protection to individuals who have been persecuted or who have a well-founded fear of persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or because they are perceived to be part of those...
LGBT Rights and Attitudes in Ukraine: the Immigration Perspective
As immigration lawyers, we know that global conflict affects immigration law and policy. I wanted to take a closer look at what is going on in and around Ukraine as it affects LGBT individuals since persecution and fear may drive people out of that region and toward...
Let’s Celebrate What Makes America Great and Keep Immigration Reform Moving Forward!
This past week was truly a historic week for our nation. The Supreme Court ruled that section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional as its “demonstrated purpose is to ensure that if any State decides to recognize same-sex marriages, those...
Ding Dong, DOMA Is Dead
Cheers erupted this morning outside the Supreme Court as the ruling was announced that by a 5-4 decision, Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. For over 15 years, because of DOMA, bi-national same-sex couples were often forced to choose...
Why saying “I do” still receives unequal treatment under Federal Immigration Laws
Last month, as I read Justice Scalia’s scathing dissent in Arizona v United States, I wondered what he’ll be thinking when he hears oral argument in the challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The premise of Scalia’s dissent was that states have the right to...
The Perfect Storm to Repeal DOMA
Written by: Ally Bolour, AILA Media-Advocacy Committee The last decade has brought unprecedented advancement in LGBT equality worldwide. Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Spain, and South Africa are among the countries that now recognize LGBT equality, including the right...
Take the Next Step in Protecting Foreign National Same-Sex Spouses
A couple of days ago gay rights groups and immigration advocates applauded an announcement by USCIS that it would suspend decisions on marriage based immigration petitions filed by gay Americans on behalf of their foreign national partners. That was good news for gay...
