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.    

DACA and Potential Pitfall for Job Verification from Employers

The New York Times reported that businesses are concerned about providing job verification documentation for deferred deportation applicants. The Obama Administration announced in June 2012 that young undocumented immigrants will be able to apply for two year deferred deportation while obtaining legal work permits. The program does not allow applicants to gain legal immigration status. 

The program has been a source of concern for employers who have been approached by their employees to provide job verification that proves they have been in the country for the requisite time period (for more on if you qualify for DACA, click here.) When applicants admit to being an undocumented workers, employers  may have to fire them until the applicants legally obtain a work permit. Also, employers fear that if they agree to provide a job verification request, it will serve as proof that they knowingly hired an undocumented immigrant, which violates federal law. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released guidelines that confirm "the businesses could provide verification for deferred deportation applicants. This information will not be shared with the enforcement authorities, 'unless there is evidence of egregious violations of criminal statutes or widespread abuses.'" 

For more on this story, 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.    

USCIS Extends Haiti's TPS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on September 21, 2012, that it will extend Haiti's temporary protected status (TPS). Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will release a set of guidelines within the next week  Individuals who qualify must have lived continuously in the United States since January 12, 2011. Stay tuned for more information on additional guidance as it is released by DHS.

Click here to read the official announcement.

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.    

First GOP Sponsor Throws Support Behind UAFA

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) became the first GOP sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), according to Washington Blade. The bill would allow gay Americans to sponsor their foreign same-sex partners for citizenship purposes. Senator Collins released a statement supporting the legislation: "This important civil rights legislation would help prevent committed, loving families from being forced to choose between leaving their family or leaving their country." Current law allows for heterosexual couples to sponsor spouse residency through the green card process. 

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.    

State Lab Drug Sample Scandal Unfolding in Massachusetts

Hundreds of criminal drug cases potentially subject to review because of alleged tampering

 Glickman Turley criminal defense attorneys are now reviewing post conviction criminal drug possession and possession with intent to deliver cases prosecuted throughout Massachusetts with the objective that many defendants may very well have legal grounds to have their convictions reversed and their cases dismissed due to allegations of drug evidence tampering at the Massachusetts State Police crime lab. This is of particular importance to defendants presently detained in prison on bail, serving a sentence or being held under immigration detainers subject to deportation because of a criminal controlled substance conviction. It is notable that criminal defendants in counties throughout Massachusetts that received mandatory minimum drug sentences may also have legal grounds to have their criminal convictions and mandatory sentence reversed or dismissed. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys have represented hundreds of criminal defendants in drug and narcotic possession, delivery, and trafficking cases. If you were convicted of a drug case including any controlled substance conviction such as possession or possession with intent to deliver, Marijuana, oxycodone pills, cocaine, methamphetamine, contact a Glickman Turley criminal defense lawyer immediately. For all appropriate criminal cases we will file an emergency motion in court to withdraw prior guilty plea and conviction and/or a motion for a new trial or to have your criminal case dismissed.

For more information about Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts drug laboratory scandal involving the tampering of narcotics read the Boston Globe articles here and here. Do not hesitate to contact Glickman Turley at 617.399.7770 or by email to discuss your case.