bahamianpride
05-12-07, - 04:56 PM
Immigration equality goes to Congress
published Wednesday, May 9, 2007
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?navpath=/channels/families&date=2007/05/09/5
Lawmakers on Tuesday reintroduced a bill into Congress to give Americans with same-sex foreign partners equal rights under U.S. immigration law.
The Uniting American Families Act, sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., will allow citizens and legal residents in same-sex relationships to sponsor their partners for immigration purposes.
Roughly 75 percent of the "green cards" or immigrant visas now in effect are issued to family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents, according to Immigration Equality and the Human Rights Campaign.
Same-sex couples, however, have no legal status under federal law.
"The promotion of family unity has long been part of federal immigration policy, and this bill promotes that principle by providing all Americans the opportunity to be with their loved ones," said Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality, in a written statement released by the rights groups.
While harsh penalties and the threat of deportation make it difficult for some couples to come forward, a UCLA study based on the 2000 Census reported 35,820 binational same-sex couples in the United States. Nearly a third of them lived in California.
"Our bill recognizes that American families come in all shapes and sizes," Nadler said in the statement. "Our laws should work to keep loving families together and not tear them apart."
At least 19 nations, including the UK, Brazil, Australia and most of Western Europe, provide some immigration benefits to the same-sex partners of citizens and permanent residents, while the United States refuses.
Nadler and Leahy introduced the legislation last year and a similar attempt was made in 2004, but they failed in the then-GOP controlled Congress. (Barbara Wilcox, The Advocate)
published Wednesday, May 9, 2007
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?navpath=/channels/families&date=2007/05/09/5
Lawmakers on Tuesday reintroduced a bill into Congress to give Americans with same-sex foreign partners equal rights under U.S. immigration law.
The Uniting American Families Act, sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., will allow citizens and legal residents in same-sex relationships to sponsor their partners for immigration purposes.
Roughly 75 percent of the "green cards" or immigrant visas now in effect are issued to family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents, according to Immigration Equality and the Human Rights Campaign.
Same-sex couples, however, have no legal status under federal law.
"The promotion of family unity has long been part of federal immigration policy, and this bill promotes that principle by providing all Americans the opportunity to be with their loved ones," said Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality, in a written statement released by the rights groups.
While harsh penalties and the threat of deportation make it difficult for some couples to come forward, a UCLA study based on the 2000 Census reported 35,820 binational same-sex couples in the United States. Nearly a third of them lived in California.
"Our bill recognizes that American families come in all shapes and sizes," Nadler said in the statement. "Our laws should work to keep loving families together and not tear them apart."
At least 19 nations, including the UK, Brazil, Australia and most of Western Europe, provide some immigration benefits to the same-sex partners of citizens and permanent residents, while the United States refuses.
Nadler and Leahy introduced the legislation last year and a similar attempt was made in 2004, but they failed in the then-GOP controlled Congress. (Barbara Wilcox, The Advocate)