State Records Show Romney Against New Birth Certificates for Gay Parents

The Boston Globe reported that Massachusetts state records revealed that former Governor Mitt Romney opposed efforts by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to revise birth certificate forms for same-sex parents. The Registry of Vital Records made efforts to comply with Massachusetts's 2003 legalization of gay marriage law, but Governor Romney rejected the Registry's efforts because, he said , "The children of America have the right to have a father and a mother...What should be the ideal for raising a child? Not a village, not 'parent A' and 'parent B,' but a mother and a father." 

The Registry's plan would allow the box labeled for "father" to be labeled as "father or second parent." Instead, Romney forced the Registry to obtain approval from his legal staff after "individually review[ing] the circumstances of every birth to same-sex parents." Once approval was obtained, "hospital officials and town clerks across the state [were] permited to cross out by hand the word 'father' on individual birth certificates, and then write in 'second parent,' in ink." Handwritten corrections on birth certificates was a violation of existing law. 

It was only after Governor Deval Patrick assumed office that the appropriate changes were made to revise the birth certificate forms acknowledging children of same-sex marriages. 

Click here to read the story. 

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Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

Obama's Promise in Off-the-Record Conversation

The President Obama spoke with The Des Moines Register this week and stated off-the-record that "The second thing I'm confident we'll get done next year is immigration reform...And since this is off the record, I will just be very blunt. Should I win a second term, a big reason I will win a second term is because the Republican nominee and the Republican Party have so alienated the fastest-growing demographic group in the country, the Latino community. And this is a relatively new phenomenon."

Governor Mitt Romney has criticized President Obama for making a similar promise back in 2008 - a promise that he could not keep. Governor Romney has stated that should he win the election, he would not support the Dream Act - a bill President Obama tried to pass in December 2010 - and he has not outlined a plan as to how he would address the issue of "more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States."

The White House gave The Des Moines Register permission to publish the off-the-record statement, which was part of a conversation President Obama had in order to gain the newspaper's endorsement. 

To read the story in The New York Times, click here. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770.

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

Dept. of State and Russian Officials: Agreement For Bilateral Adoption Goes Into Force

As of November 1, 2012, an Agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation will go into effect that provides new guidance and procedures with respect to bilateral adoptions. Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have worked closely "to promote a safe, ethical, and transparent adoption process" for intercountry adoptions, according to a statement released by USCIS. 

The transition period for all provisions to go into effect with commence on November 1, 2012, and continue for a six to nine months period. The Russian Federation still does not permit American same-sex couples to adopt Russian children. 

For more information on the Agreement, click here. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770.

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status for Haitians

USCIS announced earlier this month that DHS extended temporary protected status (TPS) for Haiti for another 18 months. The extension also includes suspension of some requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant Haitian students. The extension will last between January 23, 2013 through July 22, 2014. Those who wish to extend TPS status must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs through November 13, 2012. Applications will be accepted until November 30, 2012. The TPS beneficiaries are those who continually resided in the United States since January 12, 2011. 

The extension allows re-registrants to request for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Current EADs that have an expiration date of January 22, 2013 will now expire on July 22, 2013 - this will allow USCIS to process new EADs before the old EADs expire. 

The F-1 students will continue "to obtain employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load, while maintaining their F-1 student statues." The extension here will last through July 22, 2012. 

For more information, go to www.uscis.gov/tps. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770.

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

2nd Circuit Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down DOMA

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York held that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. The federal appeals court issued the 2-1 ruling, holding that "classification of same-sex spouses was not substantially related to an important government interest" and violated the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear the case next year. 

Click here for more information. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770.

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

Children Crossing Mexican Border Up 50% in 2011

The Los Angeles Times reported that there was an increase of unaccompanied children from Central American countries who attempted to cross the Mexican border into the U.S. illegally in hopes of qualifying for asylum. There are significant pockets of growth from three countries: "El Salvador, with 68% more unaccompanied minors; Guatamala, with 72% more; and Honduras, with the number more than doubling, from 1,201 to 2,477." These 2011 statistics were cited in a reported called "Forced From Home: The Lost Boys and Girls of Central America" and the number is expected to rise in 2012. 

Click here to read more on this story. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

DACA Estimates and Approvals: October 2012 Update

The Immigration Policy Center has released updated figures on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications. Please click here to read the report that includes "new estimates of those between the ages of 15 and 30, who are not in high school, and who don't have high school diplomas." 

USCIS has released its latest data today on DACA applicants. As of October 10, 2012, 4,951 cases have been approved. Please click here for more information. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

Prosecutorial Discretion and Same-Sex Relationships

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a memoranda clarifying one of the factors in its assessment of whether to exercise prosecutorial discretion in a case. The family relationships factor includes "two adults who are in a committed, long-term, same-sex relationship." More specifically, they are relationships where the individuals "are each other's sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely; are not in a marital or other domestic relationship with anyone else; and typically maintain a common residence and share financial obligations and assets." 

For more information, click here. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

SJC Ruling: Domestic Partnership Equivalent of Marriage in Mass.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled that a California registered same-sex domestic partnership (RDP) is the equivalent of marriage in Massachusetts in Hunter v. Rose. Hunter and Rose each bore a child during their partnership and under Massachusetts law, "children born into a legal spousal relationship are presumed to be the children of both spouses. Moreover, any child born as a result of artificial insemination with spousal consent is considered to be the child of the consenting spouse." Since parties to RDPs have identical responsibilities and rights as those to marriage, the lower court did not err in awarding physical custody and attorney's fees to Hunter. Click here to read the opinion. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.    

CA First State to Grant Drivers' Licenses to Eligible DACA Applicants

California became the first state to enact a law that would allow immigrants who qualify for the youth deferred action program (DACA) work permits to obtain drivers' licenses. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law late last night. The Department of Motor Vehicles in California will now accept the documents issued by the government to DACA applicants as proof of legal residence for the purpose of getting a valid driver's license. The purpose of the law is to "make roads safer while letting young immigrants drive to school and to work." Click here to read the Associated Press story on www.huffingtonpost.com. 

For representation, please contact Glickman Turley LLP at 617-399-7770. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.