Smith to Administration: Stop Putting Politics Above Law

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has instructed an immigration court to ignore the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in future rulings. Earlier this year, the Justice Department abandoned its obligation to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law enacted by Congress and signed by President Clinton to protect the institution of marriage.

In a decision dealing with whether same sex partners can be viewed as ‘spouses’ under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Attorney General overrode the ruling of the court and directed the judges to reconsider the case as if DOMA didn’t exist.  Following this announcement, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) criticized the Administration’s decision.

Chairman Smith:  “It appears the Obama administration will do anything to achieve its personal policy preferences.  Not only has the Administration abandoned its responsibility to defend DOMA, it has now instructed an immigration court to ignore DOMA in future rulings.   

“It’s disappointing that the Obama administration continues to pick and choose which laws it will enforce.  The Administration has chosen to willfully ignore the law of the land.  This is a terrible example for the American people.  Americans respect the rule of law and expect public officials to enforce the law and abide by it.  When will the Obama administration stop putting politics above their responsibility to enforce the law?

“Of all departments of the Administration, the Department of Justice should know better.  They are coming dangerously close to giving the impression that they don’t care what the law says.”