New law to end widow penalty provision

NEW YORK, NY Congress gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that would effectively abolish a provision known as the "Widow's Penalty." The measure is part of a bigger Homeland Security bill that Obama is expected to sign.

U.S. law now triggers the deportation of surviving immigrant spouses of American citizens who die before they have been married two years.

The requirement had prompted lawsuits and led Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano this summer to suspend it for two years. The new law would allow the widows to submit petitions seeking residency even when the spouse dies before two years of marriage.

      QUICK HEADLINES | MORE US/WORLD | GET NEWS ALERTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC13 SOCIAL NETWORKING
Find us on Facebook® | Follow us on Twitter | More social networking
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE FROM ABC13
ABC13 widget | Most popular stories | Street-level weather
ABC13 wireless | Slideshow archive | Help solve crimes
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------