On June 26, 2013, in United States v. Windsor, the US Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional. This discriminatory act denied same sex couples the benefits of marriage accorded to heterosexual couples. With this groundbreaking decision, an individual in a same sex marriage may now sponsor his or her spouse for legal permanent residency. The Secretary of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano has issued a statement that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will work with the US Department of Justice and other federal agencies to ensure the fair administration of immigration laws.
