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The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA -H.R. 1024/S. 424) was introduced
as a Valentine’s Day gift this year to same-sex, bi-national couples by Rep. Jerrold Nadler
and Sen. Patrick Leahy.
As you may be aware, the U.S. government discriminates against gay and lesbian bi-national couples
by not allowing us to sponsor our foreign-born life partners or spouses for immigration.
Because of this, we face the terrible choice of separating from the person we love
or leaving our country. As Americans, we should not have to choose between
family and country.
The UAFA would fulfill the pledge of family unification under current U.S. immigration
policy by allowing gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their life partners for immigration
to the United States. This is not a gay marriage bill and it is not an 'amnesty' bill either.
The Washington Post and The San Francisco Chronicle have both recently endorsed passage of the UAFA,
and the American Bar Association has also just recently adopted a resolution endorsing the UAFA.
This is an issue that The White House also supports:
Asked about Obama’s stance on UAFA [the Uniting American Families Act] and the likelihood of its inclusion in comprehensive immigration legislation, White House spokesman Shin Inouye said in a statement that: “The president thinks Americans with partners from other countries should not be faced with a painful choice between staying with their partner or staying in their country. We will work closely with Congress to craft comprehensive immigration reform legislation.”
This is not a problem that is fixed by civil unions or even same-sex marriage arriving in Iowa, Vermont, Maine or any other state. Tens of thousands of bi-national same-sex couples continue to be discriminated against despite changing marriage laws. The Uniting American Families Act would allow us to sponsor our foreign partners for immigration, a right that straight married couples in the US enjoy, along with same-sex couples in 19 other nations around the world. Until this legislation passes, the US will continue, in the gleeful words of the Family Research Council, to “export homosexuals from the United States” as we are forced to choose between our loved ones and our country.
I would ask you to PLEASE contact your members of Congress asking for their support on this bill, and then please mention this on your website, and e-mail your members, family and friends - and anyone who is supportive of the LGBT community in New Mexico - to help spread the word about this very important issue. While I am not from New Mexico, in order for this bill to move forward, it needs the support of as many members of Congress as possible, including:
Senator Jeff Bingaman
(505) 346-6601
Senator Tom Udall
(505) 346-6791
Rep. Martin Heinrich
(505) 346-6781
Rep. Harry Teague
(575) 522-3908
Rep. Ben Lujan
(505) 984-8950
Most of these Senators and Representatives have good records on LGBT issues, or were supported by HRC in their recent campaigns. They need to hear from their New Mexico constituents to sign on - please give them the push that they need! Reaching out to your Senators and your Representative by calling, emailing or faxing them to ask for their support can help to ensure this bill will pass.
I am one such person who would benefit greatly from the passage of the UAFA. I am an American citizen and my partner is from Europe and we both live and work here in the US, where we bought an apartment together a few years ago. With the recent economic downturn, my partner’s employer has notified him that his work visa will not be renewed when it expires in a few months. If he cannot locate another employer willing to sponsor his work visa (he has been trying for months, but not only is it difficult to find a job at the moment, but especially so when you have to convince the employer to hire an immigration attorney), we will be forced to sell our place, leave our family and friends, and move to Europe. This is something neither of us want to do as we have built a life here together.
If this bill does not move forward on its own, it must be included in Comprehensive Immigration Reform - to include the right of gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor our partners and spouses for immigration.
If you have any questions about any of this, please feel free to contact me.
Sadly, many members of the progressive and pro-LGBT Community are not aware of this issue. Please help me contact Congress to spread the word!!
Sincerely,
West Irish
