In a July 26 ruling, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denied an I-130 petition filed by a San Francisco man seeking immigrant benefits for his same-sex spouse. The decision portends future legal battles over same-sex immigration benefits. The Department of Justice under the Obama Administration has decided not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), the 1996 law which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples, on equal protection grounds. Read more about the controversial decision.