PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Stop the Deportation of Binational Same-Sex Couples
  1. Signatures
    521 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. The President of the United States (+ 7 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The President of the United States
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
      • Sen. Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
      • Sen. Robert Menendez (NJ)
      • Assistant Secretary to ICE (John Morton)
      • Director, Congressional Relations and GAO/OIG Audit Liaison Office (Elliot Williams)
      • Acting Director, Office of Detention Policy and Planning (Phyllis Coven)
  2. Created By
    Prerna Lal
    Washington, DC
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Gay and lesbian American citizens are excluded from the family-based immigration laws, even when they are legally married. While opposite-sex binational couples routinely marry and obtain permanent resident status for the foreign spouse, this is impossible for gay and lesbian couples. As a result, more than 36000 same-sex binational couples are unable to live together in the United States.

Recently, Obama announced that he will no longer defend DOMA in the courts. In light of this, Immigration Equality, an organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT immigrants, has decided to file a historic legal challenge to U.S. immigration laws that keep same-sex bi-national couples apart. Representatives Jerrod Nadler and Zoe Lofgren spoke out against the deportations of couples under DOMA, marking the first time that members of Congress have requested DHS cease these deportations. More Congressional members are expected to speak out in the near future, putting more pressure on DHS to grant temporary reprieve for all same-sex couples, not just the ones who live in states recognizing same-sex marriage.

Ask USCIS to not deny the marriage petitions of same-sex bi-national couples till a final ruling on DOMA.

Recent Signatures

Don't Deny Family-Based Petitions of Same-Sex Binational Couples

Greetings,

I'm writing to ask you to defer the deportations of same-sex binational couples and mark any marriage-based petitions from them as "pending" till the resolution of the DOMA lawsuit.

Recently, Representatives Jerrod Nadler and Zoe Lofgren spoke out against the deportations of couples under DOMA, marking the first time that members of Congress have requested DHS cease these deportations.

Same-sex couples are not asking for special rights. They want the same rights already afforded to heterosexual U.S. citizens and permanent residents who currently get to sponsor their foreign citizen spouses for citizenship. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is the only legal obstacle that prevents federal recognition of same-sex marriage and prevents same-sex binational couples from seeking immigration benefits available to heterosexual couples.

Since a legal challenge to it is pending in courts and the law is mostly likely to be overturned, denying I-130 applications by same-sex couples and putting their foreign partners in deportations does not serve justice or efficiency.

Please consider delaying the adjudication of any I-130 applications filed by same-sex couples.

Thank you.

[Your name]

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