Senator Menendez Introduces Inclusive Immigration Bill
This afternoon, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced a
comprehensive immigration bill with provisions directly impacting
bi-national LGBT couples. Named the Comprehensive Immigration
Reform Act of 2011, the bill includes within its coverage the
Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), legislation that will allow
U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor same-sex partners
for family-based immigration. Senator Menendez’s immigration bill
could mean great news for bi-national couples and their families
who are currently at risk of being pulled apart because of archaic
and unfair immigration laws that do not recognize their
families.
Data from the 2000 census estimates that there are approximately 36,000 bi-national couples living in the U.S. These discriminatory immigration practices limit the ability of U.S. citizens to provide permanency for their families, forcing many of them to make the untenable choice between their families and their country. Bi-national same-sex couples in the U.S. are raising children at the astounding rate of 46% -- more than double that of the national average of same-sex couples generally (20%) – which makes the ability to build a permanent life, home and family that much more important.
UAFA seeks to solve this problem by amending the language used in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to be inclusive of same-sex bi-national couples. The Act would add definitions for “permanent partner” and “permanent partnership” to the INA. The proposed requirements are not lax: a prospective sponsor would need to be in a committed relationship with another individual outside of their biological family and otherwise unmarried. The couple must be financially interdependent and show an intent for a lifelong commitment.
Should it pass, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011 would be beneficial for both same-sex bi-national couples and Americans at large. Under present policy, bi-national same-sex couples are often forced to settle abroad in one of the 20 countries that provide protections and benefits to emigrating same-sex couples. When they go, these couples take their tax dollars, professional talents and families with them. The current archaic and broken immigration system serves as a “brain drain” on the U.S. when talented citizens are forced to leave the country because the government refuses to recognize their families.
The Family Equality Council applauds Senators Menendez, Reid, Durbin, Kerry, Leahy and Schumer for their leadership on this issue. Family Equality Council endorses this and other such LGBT-inclusive and family-friendly legislation. This bill is one giant step toward a nation where all families, regardless of creation or composition, will be able to live in a country that recognizes, respects, protects, and celebrates them.
Data from the 2000 census estimates that there are approximately 36,000 bi-national couples living in the U.S. These discriminatory immigration practices limit the ability of U.S. citizens to provide permanency for their families, forcing many of them to make the untenable choice between their families and their country. Bi-national same-sex couples in the U.S. are raising children at the astounding rate of 46% -- more than double that of the national average of same-sex couples generally (20%) – which makes the ability to build a permanent life, home and family that much more important.
UAFA seeks to solve this problem by amending the language used in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to be inclusive of same-sex bi-national couples. The Act would add definitions for “permanent partner” and “permanent partnership” to the INA. The proposed requirements are not lax: a prospective sponsor would need to be in a committed relationship with another individual outside of their biological family and otherwise unmarried. The couple must be financially interdependent and show an intent for a lifelong commitment.
Should it pass, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011 would be beneficial for both same-sex bi-national couples and Americans at large. Under present policy, bi-national same-sex couples are often forced to settle abroad in one of the 20 countries that provide protections and benefits to emigrating same-sex couples. When they go, these couples take their tax dollars, professional talents and families with them. The current archaic and broken immigration system serves as a “brain drain” on the U.S. when talented citizens are forced to leave the country because the government refuses to recognize their families.
The Family Equality Council applauds Senators Menendez, Reid, Durbin, Kerry, Leahy and Schumer for their leadership on this issue. Family Equality Council endorses this and other such LGBT-inclusive and family-friendly legislation. This bill is one giant step toward a nation where all families, regardless of creation or composition, will be able to live in a country that recognizes, respects, protects, and celebrates them.