On October 5, 2012, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) published criteria for determining when individuals in committed, long-term, same-sex partnerships may avoid removal (i.e., deportation) from the United States pursuant to “prosecutorial discretion” decisions. According to the publication, the following factors are relevant (though not determinative) to a decision to exercise prosecutorial discretion favorably:
- The partners are each others sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely;
- The partners are not in a marital or other domestic relationship with anyone else; and
- The partners typically maintain a common residence and share financial obligations and assets.
Gradually over time, the immigration laws and regulations are recognizing the needs of same-sex parents and wideningavenues for them to stay together legally in the U.S.
If you are in a same-sex partnership and need legal assistance on an immigration-related matter, please do not hesitate to contact our office at(847) 564-0712for an appointment to speak with a qualified attorney. You can also check out our immigration law Website for more information about how we might further assist you.