Obama administration won’t deport Venezuelan man who is married to an American man

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

By Liz Goodwin | The Lookout – 6 hrs ago

The Obama administration has dropped its deportation case against Alex Benshimol, a 47-year-old Venezuelan man who is married to an American citizen, Doug Gentry.

Though Benshimol and Gentry were legally married in Massachusetts in 2008, the Defense of Marriage Act prevents Gentry from sponsoring Benshimol for a green card. The federal government launched a deportation case against Benshimol after he overstayed his visa.

"The constant fear of exile or separation is over, and for that we're very grateful," the couple said in a statement.

Immigration judge Marilyn Teeter ruled in July that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had 60 days to pursue the deportation or drop it. The judge gave Benshimol a two-year stay on his deportation even if immigration officials decided they wanted to pursue the case, citing a June memo from immigration chief John Morton that said the agency should use "prosecutorial discretion" to focus on deporting criminals.

Immigration officials decided Friday to drop the case.

This is the second time the American government has used discretion to avoid separating a same-sex married couple, according to Benshimol's lawyer, Lavi Soloway. The first was in June. Soloway said in a statement that he's "cautiously optimistic" about the news that the government will review all 300,000 deportation cases to stop prosecutions against low-priority illegal immigrants. The agency said it will try not to separate families, including gay and transgender families.[/quote

[rika60607 215]

step in the right direction

[Sofiyya 1,687]

We were once a great nation . . .

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

step in the right direction

This man is here illegally. Did you go through the visa process by chance or hop a fence?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

This man is here illegally. Did you go through the visa process by chance or hop a fence?

Check your email, Kip. Illegals have MORE rights than legals.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

So the administration is refusing to uphold the law?

From someone like Obama, this shouldn't surprise anyone..

[Danno 1,228]

Clearly this is "Obama the radical" we were warned about.

[peejay 327]

The sad and sleazy saga of the Obama freak show continues...at least until this assclown is dumped by a weary and disgusted American electorate in 2012. Hopefully then the lunatic fringe will crawl back under its rock.

[Ban Hammer 12,863]

So the administration is refusing to uphold the law?

From someone like Obama, this shouldn't surprise anyone..

pretty much sums it up.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

The sad and sleazy saga of the Obama freak show continues...at least until this assclown is dumped by a weary and disgusted American electorate in 2012. Hopefully then the lunatic fringe will crawl back under its rock.

I dunno. Illegal lovers are pretty tenecious.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

This man is here illegally. Did you go through the visa process by chance or hop a fence?

He entered legally from what I've read.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

He entered legally from what I've read.

And then he over stayed his visa. I thought over staying your visa in this country was a "no no"? Like in breaking the law.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

And then he over stayed his visa. I thought over staying your visa in this country was a "no no"? Like in breaking the law.

It is, though spouses married to US citizens aren't affected in the same way.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

It is, though spouses married to US citizens aren't affected in the same way.

So if my wife came here on a tourist visa, we could have skipped this entire CR1 visa? I wish I would have known that before hand, it would have saved us a bundle.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

So if my wife came here on a tourist visa, we could have skipped this entire CR1 visa? I wish I would have known that before hand, it would have saved us a bundle.

Indeed. Though doing it specifically to marry and immigrant is fraud.