NewsFlash! Decision on DOMA Expected

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to release its decision on the constitutionality of the federal government’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This highly anticipated decision may be released on Wednesday, June 26th, based upon the Court’s schedule changes and related news reports. This is the last week of the Supreme Court’s term, which means that all decisions should be released no later than Friday.

DOMA is a federal law, passed in 1996, that defines marriage as only between one man and one woman. If the Supreme Court finds DOMA to be unconstitutional, the resulting change would extend to the availability of immigration benefits to same-sex couples and recognition of the same-sex spousal relationship in the immigration context. This would include the ability to file family-based petitions (form I-130) for spouses of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. A more detailed discussion of DOMA’s effect on immigration is available at MurthyDotCom.

We at the Murthy Law Firm will continue to closely monitor this situation, to update readers as soon as the Supreme Court issues its decision on DOMA.

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