
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Immigration Equality filed an amicus brief Thursday in support of a constitutional challenge to a recently enacted Utah immigration law, arguing the measure would criminalize LGBT Americans who live with undocumented partners from abroad.
According to Immigration Equality, the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, similar to the controversial law passed last year in Arizona, contains a provision that criminalizes "harboring" and "sheltering" undocumented individuals, which poses a direct threat to LGBT binational families. The group argued against the law in the amicus brief filed with pro bono support from the law firm of Wilmer, Hale and the Utah Legal Clinic.
The brief cites a Utah couple who wished to remain anonymous for fear of prosecution. One partner is a lifelong state resident and social worker who may decide to leave Utah because his partner, who was in training to become a doctor, overstayed his visa and cannot be sponsored for residency, unlike the options for straight couples.
"Utah's unconscionable new immigration law actually criminalizes sharing a home with an undocumented person, even if that person is a partner or spouse," said Victoria Neilson, legal director for Immigration Equality, in a news release. "No one should be arrested for sharing their home with the person they love, but that is the very real possibility presented by this law. With this legislation, families who previously had no legal recognition are now in legal jeopardy. That is unacceptable and unconstitutional."
A copy of the brief from Immigration Equality is available online.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Women's World Cup Prize Money Increases by 300 Percent, Still One-Third of Men's
March 17 2023 3:35 PM
Lawmaker Pleads ‘Please Don’t Kill Yourself’ as Ban on Trans Care Passes
March 17 2023 11:38 AM