Tue. July 2, 2013
Washington, DC -
Earlier this week, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano affirmed that gay Americans can now sponsor an immigrant spouse for citizenship.
The announcement came days after the Supreme Court ruled a section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional and that the federal government must recognize the legal marriages of gay couples.
"After last week's decision by the Supreme Court holding that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, President Obama directed federal departments to ensure the decision and its implication for federal benefits for same-sex legally married couples are implemented swiftly and smoothly," Napolitano said in a statement.
"To that end, effective immediately, I have directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to review immigration visa petitions filed on behalf of a same-sex spouse in the same manner as those filed on behalf of an opposite-sex spouse."
This past Friday, a gay couple from Florida received notification from the USCIS immigration services that their marriage-based green card petition had been approved.
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