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U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder announced that the federal government will recognize the 300 same-sex marriages that took place in Michigan before a federal appeals court put those unions on hold last Saturday. Democrats in Michigan’s congressional delegation called on Holder, led by Rep. Dan Kildee, to recognize them under federal law.

Holder’s action will enable the government to extend eligibility for federal benefits to the Michigan couples who married Saturday, which means they can file federal taxes jointly, get Social Security benefits for spouses and request legal immigration status for partners, among other benefits.

Holder took similar action in January when he announced that the federal government recognized more than 1,300 marriages of same-sex couples in Utah that took place in December. The Supreme Court in January halted the same-sex marriages by staying a decision by a U.S. district judge, who ruled that Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage violated the Constitution.

“The Governor of Michigan has made clear that the marriages that took place on Saturday were lawful and valid when entered into, although Michigan will not extend state rights and benefits tied to these marriages pending further legal proceedings,” Holder said. “For purposes of federal law, as I announced in January with respect to similarly situated same-sex couples in Utah, these Michigan couples will not be asked to wait for further resolution in the courts before they may seek federal benefits to which they are entitled.”

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