Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA and USCIS Quickly Approves Immigration Petition for Florida Same-Sex Couple

On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court held that a key part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional under the equal protection clause. Previously, the federal law under DOMA did not recognize same-sex marriages even if it was validly performed in a state that recognized such marriages. Under this landmark ruling, a legally married same-sex partner can sponsor his or her partner for permanent resident status under the immigration law. The U.S immigration office has responded quickly to this decision. On June 28, just two days after the decision, a same-sex couple in Florida received notice that USCIS approved an American citizen’s petition for his legally married partner’s permanent resident status.

On July 2, 2013, the Department of Homeland Security Janet Nepolitano has released the a statement and answers to FAQ’s.