Mize v. Pompeo
Lambda Legal, with Immigration Equality, and pro bono counsel Morgan Lewis, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against the U.S. Department of State for refusing to recognize the citizenship of Simone Mize-Gregg, the daughter of U.S. citizens Derek Mize and Jonathan Gregg. 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.
- July 2019: Lambda Legal and Immigration Equality filed 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.
- January 2020: Lambda Legal and Immigration Equality file motion for partial summary judgment, asking a federal court to compel the State Department to recognize the citizenship of Baby Simone.
- July 2020: Oral arguments are heard.
- August 2020: Victory! Federal court orders the Trump administration to issue a passport to Baby Simone.