Powerful allies help Brazilian man, Mass. husband reunite in closely watched gay asylum case
By Russell Contreras, APFriday, June 4, 2010
Brazilian man, Mass. husband rejoin in asylum case
BOSTON — A Brazilian man and his Massachusetts husband have been reunited after U.S. Sen. John Kerry pressed immigration officials to temporarily allow the gay man back into the country on humanitarian grounds.
Thirty-one-year-old Genesio Oliveira (heh-NEH-see-OH’ OH’-lee-VEH’-ee-AH’) rejoined 49-year-old Tim Coco of Haverhill at an emotional reunion in Boston this week.
The couple married in 2005, but split up two years ago when Oliveira was forced to return to Brazil after being denied asylum in the U.S. because the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages.
Oliveira says he plans to apply for permanent asylum in the U.S.
Victoria Neilson, of the New York-based Immigration Equality, called the case a rare victory for gay marriage asylum seekers.
