Immigration And Gay Rights Reforms FTW!
In a sign that decency and honor might actually be on the rise in our fair country, Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont has proposed a bill that would allow legal immigrants in America to pursue residency for their same-sex partners if they are not yet citizens.
President Obama has immigration reform on his agenda, though the specifics of all the pending legislation is, of course, hotly contested. Senator Leahy’s bill appears particularly ambitious with its union of immigration and gay rights, certainly two much talked about issues with massive energy on both sides.
Here’s an explanation of the current system, from the NYTimes:
Under family unification provisions in immigration law, American citizens and legal residents can petition for residency for their spouses. There is no numerical limit on permanent residence visas, known as green cards, for spouses of American citizens, and this is one of the main channels for legal immigration to the United States. Same-sex couples, though, cannot petition for partners, and many face the prospect of an immigrant partner’s deportation.
Right now, any American citizen can petition for a green card for their non-resident spouse, but that ability does not extend to same-sex couples.
Leahy’s bill is titled The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), and its numbers in Congress are S. 424/H.R. 1024. The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the bill began TODAY, and if you’re interested in watching the hearing live you can pick it up here.
We’ll be back later with updates as they come.
-sam
