Comments on: Attorney General Holder Halts Deportation http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/05/05/32373 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Sat, 18 May 2013 21:32:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: allison munn http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/05/05/32373/comment-page-1#comment-93904 allison munn Fri, 06 May 2011 18:51:49 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=32373#comment-93904 let him stay no one has said what he has given up to stay in your country. No one has said what he has put into your econmy no one has said that he did not live of the country so get over it and let him stay put. let him stay no one has said what he has given up to stay in your country. No one has said what he has put into your econmy no one has said that he did not live of the country so get over it and let him stay put.

]]> By: Timothy Kincaid http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/05/05/32373/comment-page-1#comment-93894 Timothy Kincaid Fri, 06 May 2011 17:26:58 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=32373#comment-93894 This is fascinating. Holder is raising an issue that is quite separate to the obvious one. Yes, there is the question as to whether this is fair treatment, but the bigger question is this: <b><i>Do civil unions have federal rights?</b></i> I feel for this couple. I know that the threat of deportation is causing anguish. But it would be a better decision for our community if the Board responded by saying that New Jersey's civil unions do <i>NOT</i> qualify him to be considered a “spouse” under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Our legal battle against Proposition 8 would be greatly strengthened by yet more evidence of the inequality of the Separate But Equal status of civil unions. I don't think that we would be well served by a scheme that gives spousal benefits to civil unions, but not to legally married same-sex spouses. This is fascinating.

Holder is raising an issue that is quite separate to the obvious one. Yes, there is the question as to whether this is fair treatment, but the bigger question is this:

Do civil unions have federal rights?

I feel for this couple. I know that the threat of deportation is causing anguish.

But it would be a better decision for our community if the Board responded by saying that New Jersey’s civil unions do NOT qualify him to be considered a “spouse” under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Our legal battle against Proposition 8 would be greatly strengthened by yet more evidence of the inequality of the Separate But Equal status of civil unions. I don’t think that we would be well served by a scheme that gives spousal benefits to civil unions, but not to legally married same-sex spouses.

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