U.S. Temporarily Suspends Policy of Deporting Widows of Citizens

U.S. Temporarily Suspends Policy of Deporting Widows of Citizens

By MIRIAM JORDAN


The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it is temporarily freezing a policy of deporting widows and widowers of U.S. citizens, a sign of the Obama administration's interest in new approaches to immigration.

Only a few hundred people were at risk of deportation under the policy, but critics viewed it as one of the most painful consequences of President George W. Bush's immigration crackdown.

Under the current interpretation of federal law, some immigrants whose American spouses had died faced possible deportation because their legal status was in limbo. The rule applied to immigrants who had been married for less than two years or whose green-card process hadn't been completed when their spouses died. The clause, known as the "widow penalty," had resulted in a spate of lawsuits.

On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that her agency was freezing any action against such widows and widowers for two years. "Smart immigration policy balances strong enforcement practices with common-sense, practical solutions to complicated issues," Ms. Napolitano said.

A Department of Homeland Security statement said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that oversees immigrant petitions, would give favorable consideration to requests for reinstatement of cases that previously had been revoked under the law.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124460396702601095.html

As an occasionally harsh critic of the Obama administration, primarly on the "big issues" this is one of the reasons I won't subscribe to the "just like Bush" or "Bush lite" philosophy. Anyone believe this would be how things were handled under either McCain or Bush II? Things are "different" even if not "better" or the way I would have "hoped".

Nazis.

Republicans.

Thats about it.

Don

we are not allowed to bring them here legally. So while I support this step,it sure does not help others in similar situations at all.

but gay citizens are still second-class.