CORRECTION: Watch Dog was wrong...

Watch Dog has written about the story of the Domestic Partners in Pacifica whose family is on the verge of being torn apart by the Federal government.

Here is what we wrote on April 3rd, when this story first came out:

The Chronicle features a Pacifica couple who have been together for 23 years and are Registered Domestic Partners in California. One (major) problem, the Federal government wants to deport one of the partners because she is not a legal citizen. Half of our County's aforementioned Dynamic Duo (Congresswoman Speier) got a three-week stay of deportation for Shirley Tan...everyone is waiting to see what is going to happen next, including Watch Dog.

And here are excerpts of what we wrote on April 24th:

...In Pacifica, a family (which happened to be lesbian couple with children) was about to be ripped apart by the Federal government as one of the registered domestic partners was set to be deported for overstaying her visa. Senator Feinstein stepped in and is now playing the hero role. (We have to wonder how this worked its way through D.C. When the story was written about originally, Congresswoman Jackie Speier got a three-week stay for the deportation, now Feinstein is in the lead role...I guess the spotlight is only so big, especially when you (Senator Feinstain) are trying to divert attention from a growing controversy...very gracious Congresswoman Speier.)

Watch Dog admits when we are wrong -- and our implication about what went on between Congresswoman Speier and Senator Feinstein was wrong. So, here is an email note from Mike Larsen of Congresswoman Speier's office to clarify:
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Dear Watchdog:

While your description of political intrigue at work behind the scenes in the effort to save Shirley Tan from being deported made for excellent reading, the way it really happened is actually quite dull.

Ms Tan and her partner contacted our office and Congresswoman Speier was briefed on her situation. (In a committed relationship for 23 years, with twin 12 year-old boys, she's about to be deported to the Phillipines because of an outstanding order that her previous lawyer neglected to tell her about.) We examined the facts and looked into what could be done. Because the House and Senate have different rules for immigration bills - In the Senate, a stay of deportation is issued the moment the bill is introduced, while in the House, the bill must go through the regular committee process (which can take months) before a stay is issued - it was determined that contacting one of California's Senators would be her best chance of a favorable outcome.

Ms. Tan had already contacted Senator Feinstein's office, so the Congresswoman spoke to the Senator and was told that Senator Feinstein's staff was examining the case but that the file was thin and they needed more documentation. Since the deportation date was just 48 hours away, Congresswoman Speier contacted an immigration official in San Francisco and arranged to delay the date long enough for the family to get its papers in order and Senator Feinstein's staff to examine them.

Upon review of all the materials, the Senator decided that Ms. Tan's case was worthy of private legislation and she introduced the bill.

Senator Feinstein did a very good and courageous thing, in my opinion. Even in California, taking a principled stand on issues like marriage equality and immigration is not without its risks.
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Record corrected. Thank you Mr. Larsen.