L*******e
发帖数: 2202 | 1 http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/01/04/gay-san-francis
Bradford Wells and Anthony John Makk, a bi-national, married gay couple who
have lived most of the 19 years of their relationship in San Francisco’s
Castro district, today won a two year stay against the threat of deportation
, thanks to the personal intervention of their representative, House leader
Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and state
Sen. Mark Leno, a Democrat who represents parts of San Francisco, also
provided assistance.
Makk is a citizen of Australia married to Wells, a U.S. citizen who suffers
from AIDS-related illnesses. Makk is his primary caregiver. Makk was denied
consideration for a green card based on his marriage to a citizen by the
1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, which bars all federal marital rights
and responsibilities to same-sex couples. The law covers not only
immigration issues but also hundreds of tax, Social Security and other
federal laws.
“We’re still dizzy from the news,” said Makk. “We are elated.”
“I’m relieved, really excited and relieved,” Wells said. “I am so
grateful I don’t have to worry about Anthony being taken out of the country
.”
Their case was first covered by the Chronicle last June and touched a nerve,
becoming SFGate’s most widely shared story of the year on Facebook, shared
by 75,000 people. Their case received national and international media
attention.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a letter to Makk today
saying he has been granted “deferred action” on his case for two years.
The letter said the action is “an exercise of prosecutorial discretion”
that allows the agency not to pursue deportation for a specific period. Makk
met multiple conditions of the agency’s new guidelines for immigration
agents to prioritize deportation cases, including family ties, status as a
primary caregiver, lack of criminal record and his long period of legal
residence under a series of visas that eventually expired.
Pelosi broke the news to the couple herself today, and issued a statement
calling the resolution of the case “a personal victory for Bradford and
Anthony” that “keeps this loving couple together.” She said she would
continue to fight for repeal of DOMA.
Steve Ralls, a spokesman for Immigration Equality, the advocacy group that
championed their case, Makk can now remain lawfully in the United States, as
he has since first entering the country nearly two decades ago. The so-
called deferral is also renewable, meaning it could be extended when it
expires in two years.
“Although this is not a permanent fix, it is a very signficant fix for them
, and ensures that at least for the near term, they do not have to worry
about separation,” Ralls said. “Anthony will be able to remain with
Bradford and care for him.” | m******8
发帖数: 2153 | 2 What happens after two years? Need an ultimate solution... | m******1
发帖数: 19713 | 3 两年以后形势会比现在好多了，现在能拖就是胜利，时间在咱们这边。
【在 m******8 的大作中提到】
: What happens after two years? Need an ultimate solution...
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