An omnibus immigration reform bill has been introduced in the U.S. House containing language that would allow gay Americans to sponsor their foreign partners for residency.
Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) introduced the legislation, known as the Reuniting Families Act, on Thursday.Steve Ralls, spokesperson for Immigration Equality, said the language in the immigration reform bill is virtually identical to the Uniting American Families Act.
"Congressman Honda has been with the LGBT community on every single issue that we have faced," Ralls said. "He has been adamant from day one that he wanted the LGBT community included in this legislation, too."
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the Uniting American Families Act earlier this week. One witness, Shirley Tan, described how she faces deportation from her family in 2011 under current law. An
Search results for deportation
Immigration bill includes gay provision
Posted by
USABound 1084 days ago
(http://www.sovo.com)
Pacifica Mom Urges Passage of Gay Immigration Bill (KCBS NEWS AUDIO)
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1085 days ago
(http://www.kcbs.com)
A Pacifica mother of two testified on capitol hill Wednesday about how immigration officials took her away from her home in handcuffs for ignoring a deportation letter, which she said she had never seen before.
Uniting American Families Act testimony inspires tears
Posted by
uluckidog 1086 days ago
(http://www.sovo.com)
A congressional hearing on a controversial gay immigration bill brought a touching moment when a witness relating her story about wanting to avoid deportation from the United States told her story to lawmakers.
Shirley Tan, a Philippines national who has been living in Pacifica, Calif., with her partner of 23 years, Jay Mercado, described for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday how U.S. immigration officials took her from her home and family in January this year after showing her a 2002 deportation letter, which she said she had never seen before.
“Before I knew it, I was handcuffed and taken away, like a criminal, as Jay’s frail mother watched in hysterics,” she said. “I was put into a van with two men in yellow jump suits and chains and searched like a criminal, in a way I have only seen in movies.”Tan choked back tears as she described the experience to the committee. T
Shirley Tan, a Philippines national who has been living in Pacifica, Calif., with her partner of 23 years, Jay Mercado, described for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday how U.S. immigration officials took her from her home and family in January this year after showing her a 2002 deportation letter, which she said she had never seen before.
“Before I knew it, I was handcuffed and taken away, like a criminal, as Jay’s frail mother watched in hysterics,” she said. “I was put into a van with two men in yellow jump suits and chains and searched like a criminal, in a way I have only seen in movies.”Tan choked back tears as she described the experience to the committee. T
Shirley Tan Invited to UAFA Hearing
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1092 days ago
(http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com)
By Melanie Nathan – Breaking – Today, 1.30 PM. Senator Leahy , (D-VT) extended an invitation to Shirley Tan to testify at the UAFA hearing on June 3rd before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Shirley Tan, her wife Jay and their twelve year old twinsons, together with ‘yours truly’ will be traveling next week to DC for the hearings and congressional briefings. Earlier this month Shirley’s deportation was stayed at the last minute ( for the duration of this Congress 111) by the introduction of a rare Private Bill on her behalf by Senator Feinstein. (D-CA)
Now with thanks to the efforts of Immigration Equality, this hearing ought to shed more light on the inequities in the law and the flagrant exclusion of the LGBT community under the Immigration Act. It will also highlight the suffering of families under the current immigration law, regardless of sexual orientation, as
Now with thanks to the efforts of Immigration Equality, this hearing ought to shed more light on the inequities in the law and the flagrant exclusion of the LGBT community under the Immigration Act. It will also highlight the suffering of families under the current immigration law, regardless of sexual orientation, as
Uniting American Families Act VIDEO by autismwithanattitude
Posted by
uluckidog 1096 days ago
(http://youtube.com)
Please go to this site and sign the petition, write to members of congress. Families should not be split apart like this. Please help!
You can sign the petition if you live anywhere in the world and even if you are not married or are not gay. Show that you are a fair-minded individual. More than 20 other countries throughout the world have decided to step up and do the right thing by providing immigration rights for binational couples. Help us bring attention to this injustice and have the USA join these other countries in helping families to live together.
Keywords: UAFA lesbian gay transgender transsexual immigration equality residency same-sex marriage binational couples visa deportation permanent
You can sign the petition if you live anywhere in the world and even if you are not married or are not gay. Show that you are a fair-minded individual. More than 20 other countries throughout the world have decided to step up and do the right thing by providing immigration rights for binational couples. Help us bring attention to this injustice and have the USA join these other countries in helping families to live together.
Keywords: UAFA lesbian gay transgender transsexual immigration equality residency same-sex marriage binational couples visa deportation permanent
Immigration Equality Again
Posted by
ATLdave 1112 days ago
(http://fanniesroom.blogspot.com)
Fortunately, Senator Dianne Feinstein came to the rescue and introduced a bill that stayed the deportation order.
UAFA will bring more homosexual activists into the Country
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1114 days ago
(http://www.inlookout.com)
Washington Post: Gay immigration bill (UAFA) corrects “a gross unfairness” · Family torn apart as binational same-sex couple faces deportation · Immigration bill to unite gay binational couples with path to citizenship ...
At a townhall meeting this past weekend I asked Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-12)—who represents my district—about immigration reform as it pertains to bi-national same-sex couples.
Speier is one of 97 co-sponsors for the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which provides a path to citizenship for bi-national same-sex couples where one of the partners is not a natural-born or naturalized citizen. I asked Speier what was the best method of passing UAFA, either as a stand-alone measure or as a part of more comprehensive immigration reform. I framed the question around the story of Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado, a local bi-national lesbian couple nearly split apart by deportation. Speier responded directly:
So the only way that bill is going to get passed is
Speier is one of 97 co-sponsors for the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which provides a path to citizenship for bi-national same-sex couples where one of the partners is not a natural-born or naturalized citizen. I asked Speier what was the best method of passing UAFA, either as a stand-alone measure or as a part of more comprehensive immigration reform. I framed the question around the story of Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado, a local bi-national lesbian couple nearly split apart by deportation. Speier responded directly:
So the only way that bill is going to get passed is
Deportation on hold for gay mom
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1118 days ago
(http://www.pacificatribune.com)
This happy family is intact thanks to a private bill introduced by Senator Diane Feinstein to stay the deportation order of Shirley Tan, right.
(Her story is beginning to gain some media attention and being circulated among gay immigration rights activists.) She met her lesbian partner Jay Mercado and had two twin children. And they have been together since Tan entered the ...
Anti LGBT extremist says Deport Shirley Tan
Posted by
ATLdave 1118 days ago
(http://ca-ripple-effect.blogspot.com)
...legislation that delays the deportation order and helps highlight the need to pass the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), since binational...
US lesbian mother given deportation reprieveDallas Voice, TX... immigration reform bill, known as the Uniting American Families Act, that would give gay Americans the right to sponsor foreign-born partners for residency. “The long-term health of their family completely depends on the passage of UAFA,” Nathan ...
Shirley Tan Saved from Deportation by Private Bill
Posted by
igualdad 1125 days ago
(http://feeds.towleroad.com)
Shirley Tan, who had received a temporary reprieve and was scheduled to be deported and separated from her partner of 23 years, Jay Mercado, and their two children on April 22, was saved at the last minute by a private bill introduced ...
New Bill Saves Lesbian From Deportation
Posted by
SFbeat 1125 days ago
(http://www.gaywired.com)
Activists from Marriage Equality USA, Immigration Equality, Out4Immigration and Love Exiles implored elected officials to help.
Senator Feinstein Emergency Bill Saves SameSex Couple from Deportation (Indybay)
Posted by
uluckidog 1126 days ago
(http://www.indybay.org)
Kathy Drasky - Because federal immigration law does not currently allow LGBT Americans to sponsor their partners, it took an emergency bill introduced on the Senate floor yesterday by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to keep one same-sex binational couple and their family together in the United States.
Jay Mercado, an American woman and Shirley Tan, her Filipino partner, live in Pacifica, California with their 12-year-old twin sons, both American citizens. Shirley had been ordered to appear for deportation on May 10, but the emergency bill will keep this family together at least through 2010.
Jay Mercado, an American woman and Shirley Tan, her Filipino partner, live in Pacifica, California with their 12-year-old twin sons, both American citizens. Shirley had been ordered to appear for deportation on May 10, but the emergency bill will keep this family together at least through 2010.
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Promoting public awareness of the need for fairness in immigration policy particularly as it relates to the rights of same-sex bi-national couples in the United States who seek equal immigration rights; Providing information regarding political issues relating to gay immigration equality issues, rights and policy.