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Henry Velandia is married to a U.S. citizen, but he might be deported anyway.
That's because the Venezuelan-born salsa teacher's legal same-sex marriage in Connecticut isn't recognized by the federal government. So his husband -- Josh Vandiver, a Princeton University doctoral student from Colorado -- can't sponsor him for residency the way he could in a heterosexual marriage.
The New Jersey couple of four years say the Defense of Marriage Act, which legally defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, could force them to leave the country.
It's frustrating to find my passion and the love of my life, yet still run the risk of deportation, Velandia told the Daily Princetonian.
His application for a new work visa was denied, and he's scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in Newark on Nov. 17. It's not clear why his visa was denied. The Department of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, did not immediately return a request for comment today.
Velandia, who came to the United States in 2002, said he has established himself in the country and doesn't want to move. I started from zero in this country -- new language, new culture, he told the Princetonian. He also started his own dance school in Princeton, called HotSalsaHot.
Link: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/artic...married-gay-man-faces-us-deportation/19691601
That's because the Venezuelan-born salsa teacher's legal same-sex marriage in Connecticut isn't recognized by the federal government. So his husband -- Josh Vandiver, a Princeton University doctoral student from Colorado -- can't sponsor him for residency the way he could in a heterosexual marriage.
The New Jersey couple of four years say the Defense of Marriage Act, which legally defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, could force them to leave the country.
It's frustrating to find my passion and the love of my life, yet still run the risk of deportation, Velandia told the Daily Princetonian.
His application for a new work visa was denied, and he's scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in Newark on Nov. 17. It's not clear why his visa was denied. The Department of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, did not immediately return a request for comment today.
Velandia, who came to the United States in 2002, said he has established himself in the country and doesn't want to move. I started from zero in this country -- new language, new culture, he told the Princetonian. He also started his own dance school in Princeton, called HotSalsaHot.
Link: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/artic...married-gay-man-faces-us-deportation/19691601
