<img width="400" height="267" alt="ImmigrationSealandPen" src="/site/files/oldnewsfiles/ImmigrationSealandPen.jpg" class="FloatRight">In an opinion article picked up by the <a href="http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2013/07/opinion_supreme_court_doma_rul.html" title="Opinion: Supreme Court DOMA ruling opens the door to immigration benefits">Trenton Times</a> about the immigration implications of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor, adjunct professor of immigration and nationality law <a href="/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/HirschMatthewI.aspx">Matthew I. Hirsch</a> writes, “In practical terms, the decision means that married same-sex couples will have the same rights as traditional married couples in such areas as income tax, estate tax, health privacy and other federally regulated areas — including immigration.”<br><br>In the article, Hirsch uses the story of Australian Anthony Sullivan and his partner of 41 years, U.S. citizen Richard Adams, to frame a historical overview of the problems regarding same-sex marriage and immigration to the United States. He then uses the recent Supreme Court decision striking down portions of the Defense of Marriage Act to look at how the situation may change moving forward.<br><br>“Most important, for couples married in states that allow same-sex marriage, the DOMA decision will open the door to legal permanent resident status, enabling families to stay together, the sanctity of their relationship recognized by the U.S. Constitution,” concludes Hirsch in the article.<br><br>In addition to the Trenton Times, the Philadelphia Gay News and the Rainbow Times of Boston have also published Hirsch’s article. A member of the Board of Trustees of the American Immigration Council, Matthew I. Hirsch is a solo practitioner based in Wayne, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit the <a href="http://hirschlaw1.com/" title="http://hirschlaw1.com/">official website for the Law Office of Matthew Hirsch</a> or like the Law Office’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hirschlaw1" title="Facebook">Facebook page</a> for regular updates and news.<br><br><a href="/About/standarddisclaimer.aspx">Standard Disclaimer for External Links</a>