Thursday, May 5, 2011

First Crack in Federal Immigration Bar to Same-Sex Partner Benefits

Today, Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. vacated and remanded the Board of Immigration Appeals precedent decision barring any immigration benefits to same-sex partners. The decision is called Matter of Dorman 25 I&N Dec. 485 (A.G. 2011).

In this decision, the AG has remanded the decision back to the BIA for additional findings on the question of whether domestic partnership of same-sex relationship qualifies for cancellation of removal. This is the first crack in the once solid wall barring any immigration benefits to same-sex partners. As our law practice is in the San Francisco Bay Area, this decision is of especial importance to our office.

The full decision can be found here.

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