Kiviti v. Pompeo
Lambda Legal, with Immigration Equality and pro bono counsel Morgan Lewis, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Maryland against the U.S. Department of State for refusing to recognize the citizenship of Kessem Kiviti, the daughter of married U.S. citizens Roee and Adiel Kiviti. The Department of State’s policy treats the children of U.S. citizens in same-sex marriages as “born out of wedlock,” unconstitutionally stripping these children of their citizenship and inappropriately adding a “biological relationship” requirement to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The lawsuit argues that the Department of State’s policy violates the express language of the Immigration and Nationality Act, unconstitutionally disregards the dignity and equality of the marriages of same-sex couples, and unlawfully discriminates against children simply because their married parents are a same-sex couple.
- September 2019 Lambda Legal files a lawsuit against the US State Department for refusing to recognize the citizenship of the daughter of a married same-sex couple, both of whom are U.S. citizens.
- June 2020 Victory! Federal court orders Department of State to recognize citizenship of Kessem.