The White House has been under increasing pressure since Obama’s inauguration to provide equal benefits to same sex couples under United States law. Recently Hillary Clinton reversed previous State Department policy by providing same sex partners of State Department employees with most of the benefits extended to different sex couples (including diplomatic passports for partners).
President Barack Obama is extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. The question is: will Obama go further in extending benefits to same-sex couples? Of particular importance from an Immigration perspective: will the Uniting American Families Act be passed?
The feeling of many American Immigration Lawyers is that UAFA, or some bill similar to the UAFA, will eventually become law. The question is: when?
Hopefully for these families who are being kept
Search results for uafa
Obama to Extend Federal Benefits to Same Sex Couples What About UAFA
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1072 days ago
(http://integrity-legal.com)
A Press conference in D.C. on Thursday was attended by Shirley Tan and her family when Mike Honda introduced the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would, inter alia, extend to “permanent partners” the same naturalization rights accorded to spouses under the bill, allowing gay and lesbian Americans to seek legal residency for their immigrant same-sex partners. Although designed as comprehensive reform, it would include the LBGT community. This would then in effect amount to a merger (if you will) or an absorption, more appro pro of the Uniting American Families Act. I still have to be convinced that from the LGBT standpoint we have not sold ourselves short, due in part to the greater political debate and invalidation of our families by certain groups. If that is the case though I hope UAFA will continue to stand on its own. I can do not better for now than to refer you to this
Is this UAFA bill pushing things a bit
Posted by
ATLdave 1075 days ago
(http://answers.yahoo.com)
The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA)-im a homosexual, but this gay marriage stuff is stupid. Yeah it lets gay people who have no marital relationship, bring a sex partner into the US for permanent residence. In other words, suddenly 100 million immigrants will claim they're gay and bring their friends in. What a STUPID law!
Gay provision included in immigration bill (SoVo)
Posted by
uluckidog 1077 days ago
(http://www.sovo.com)
An omnibus immigration reform bill has been introduced in the U.S. House containing language that would allow gays to sponsor their foreign partners for residency.
Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) introduced the legislation, known as the Reuniting Families Act, June 4. The lawmaker said in an interview that he included the provision in the bill because “it falls under the definition of all families.”
“If they’re not included, you cannot say all families,” he said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Asked whether President Obama supports the inclusion of an LGBT provision as part of comprehensive immigration reform legislation, Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, issued the following statement: “President Obama 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,” he said. “He
Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) introduced the legislation, known as the Reuniting Families Act, June 4. The lawmaker said in an interview that he included the provision in the bill because “it falls under the definition of all families.”
“If they’re not included, you cannot say all families,” he said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Asked whether President Obama supports the inclusion of an LGBT provision as part of comprehensive immigration reform legislation, Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, issued the following statement: “President Obama 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,” he said. “He
Suck it up boy (Berges Cartoon Blog)
Posted by
uluckidog 1077 days ago
(http://bergetoons.blogspot.com)
Cartoon. At senate hearings on the Uniting American Families Act bill, Alabama Republican Jefferson Sessions was reported responding to the tears of a 12-year-old, one of whose mothers faces deportation to her native Philippines, by muttering "Enough with the histrionics!" Different-sex couples, of course, do not run the risk of one parent being deported when his or her visa runs out; they can get married. Same-sex couples, even those living in states which recognize same-sex marriage, do not.
Another Schrug from Obama
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1077 days ago
(http://brad-justbecause.blogspot.com)
It's the same reason he hasn't moved on the Defense of Marriage Act, and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell military ban (which the majority of Americans support) and why he didn’t issue a supportive statement on the Uniting American Families Act when it was being debated in Congress last week.
Gays and lesbians are not his priority. Which is why the only "accomplishment" his administration could claim in proclaiming the White House's support for Gay Pride month. Except — ooops — the Advocate reported that this isn't true. President Clinton nominated Roberta Achtenberg as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and Bruce Lehman as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, both within his first hundred days.
Gays and lesbians are not his priority. Which is why the only "accomplishment" his administration could claim in proclaiming the White House's support for Gay Pride month. Except — ooops — the Advocate reported that this isn't true. President Clinton nominated Roberta Achtenberg as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and Bruce Lehman as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, both within his first hundred days.
Mayors move not thought out (San Angelo Standard Times)
Posted by
USABound 1077 days ago
(http://www.gosanangelo.com)
As details about J.W. Lown’s predicament emerge, it becomes clearer that the former mayor showed extraordinarily poor judgment in the decisions he made in resigning suddenly and relocating to Mexico with his partner.
The effects on San Angelo have been considered fully since his departure on May 19, the day he was to be sworn in for his fourth term. More recently it has become evident that the impulsiveness of his actions — which were out of character for San Angelo’s youngest mayor — adversely affected his own future. Even after Lown made public that his partner was here illegally, the process of deporting the man might have taken years. At any rate, immigration lawyers say he would have been in a better position for applying for legal status from here than from Mexico.
According to an immigration lawyer who commented for a story in Sunday’s Standard-Times, t
The effects on San Angelo have been considered fully since his departure on May 19, the day he was to be sworn in for his fourth term. More recently it has become evident that the impulsiveness of his actions — which were out of character for San Angelo’s youngest mayor — adversely affected his own future. Even after Lown made public that his partner was here illegally, the process of deporting the man might have taken years. At any rate, immigration lawyers say he would have been in a better position for applying for legal status from here than from Mexico.
According to an immigration lawyer who commented for a story in Sunday’s Standard-Times, t
UAFA and Sex Discrimination (Letter to Senator)
Posted by
ATLdave 1077 days ago
(http://agoodchoice.blogspot.com)
Dear Senator: I am writing this in regards to S.424, The Uniting American Families Act, and in particular section 20. It seems unthinkable to me to add the term "permanent partner" to immigration law. It is easy to see that the intent of this bill is to allow same-sex partners equal status as married couples in regards to resident status.
First of all, by including same-sex partners, this encourages unhealthy, immoral behavior that is condemned by every major religion on the face of the earth.
Secondly, "permanent partner" is an inherently ill-defined term. What if people who aren't really "partners" (either same or different sex) say that they are just so that they can get visas, etc.? What are you going to do, watch them while they...? Do they have to sign an affidavit saying that they had sex a certain number of times and plan to continue to do it with cert
First of all, by including same-sex partners, this encourages unhealthy, immoral behavior that is condemned by every major religion on the face of the earth.
Secondly, "permanent partner" is an inherently ill-defined term. What if people who aren't really "partners" (either same or different sex) say that they are just so that they can get visas, etc.? What are you going to do, watch them while they...? Do they have to sign an affidavit saying that they had sex a certain number of times and plan to continue to do it with cert
Immigration Reform faith based or not and same sex marriage
Posted by
ATLdave 1077 days ago
(http://www.religiondispatches.org)
As Julia Preston reported in the New York Times a week ago, the powerful chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, has set off a huge and mainly behind-the-scenes panic among certain religious supporters of so-called comprehensive immigration reform. Bishop John Wester, who heads the Catholic bishops’ Committee on Migration, wrote to the Congressional committee chairs who are beginning to work on immigration that Leahy’s Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) would “erode the institution of marriage and family.”
The bishops’ staff director for immigration policy added that “the last thing the national immigration debate needs is another politically divisive issue added to the mix.”
And the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, leader of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, an Evangelical group, called Leahy’s measure a “slap in the face” of right-th
The bishops’ staff director for immigration policy added that “the last thing the national immigration debate needs is another politically divisive issue added to the mix.”
And the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, leader of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, an Evangelical group, called Leahy’s measure a “slap in the face” of right-th
Whats there to Get about Marriage Equality (Jennifer Brunner)
Posted by
uluckidog 1079 days ago
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com)
Jennifer BrunnerOhio Secretary Of State; candidate for U.S. Senate - When an LGBT couple, with or without children, is bi-national, problems increase. Marriage equality is the law in the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain and South Africa. However, the U.S. definition of "family" for immigration purposes does not include LGBT couples. Without this, many U.S. LGBT citizens have found their only alternative is to emigrate with their partners to a country with laws that afford them the opportunity to live together without fear of separation because of antiquated laws that do not recognize their families.
Even in countries not recognizing marriage equality, common sense immigration equality has been legislated. (For those concerned about fraud, it should be pointed out that none of these countries has reported fraud associated with this policy.)
A good start is to
Even in countries not recognizing marriage equality, common sense immigration equality has been legislated. (For those concerned about fraud, it should be pointed out that none of these countries has reported fraud associated with this policy.)
A good start is to
What Love Exiles Are Writing About Their Experience (Love Exiles)
Posted by
igualdad 1079 days ago
(http://loveexiles.wordpress.com)
Love exiles have been sharing stories since the UAFA hearing. A dominating theme is that we have chosen not to use fraud – pretend we are straight and marry someone of the opposite sex – but that for our good grace we are being punished. A predominate argument against UAFA, and sadly a position supported by Senator Feinstein, is that marriage fraud will increase. Read here what the resuolt of “doing the right thing’can lead to.
“We have been in Canada since 2005 and no offense to anyone else but...
I think its pretty clear: we have proven we do not do fraud, we are in exile. And we want the right to live with the rest of our families. that’s why I love this banner.
“We have been in Canada since 2005 and no offense to anyone else but...
I think its pretty clear: we have proven we do not do fraud, we are in exile. And we want the right to live with the rest of our families. that’s why I love this banner.
Love Exiles UAFA Testimony (Love Exiles)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1079 days ago
(http://loveexiles.wordpress.com)
America's Love Exiles Support the Uniting American Families Act Testimony submitted to: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Hearing: “The Uniting American Families Act: Addressing Inequality in Federal Immigration Law” ...
Senate Judiciary Committee Reviews Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1079 days ago
(http://www.fairus.org)
On Wednesday, June 3, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) (S. 424), a bill that would extend so-called “permanent partner” visas to persons involved in same-sex relationships. (New York Times, June 3, 2009; Politico, June 3, 2009). The bill’s supporters used the hearing to emphasize what they perceive to be the unfairness of current visa rules, while critics pointed to what they view as significant loopholes that will guarantee widespread fraud and higher immigration enforcement costs. (Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, June 3, 2009).
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-AL) addressed much of the pro-UAFA testimony by noting that the UAFA's creation of a visa for same-sex partners would be a de facto federal recognition of same-sex relationships that might impact other areas of federal law. Sessions al
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-AL) addressed much of the pro-UAFA testimony by noting that the UAFA's creation of a visa for same-sex partners would be a de facto federal recognition of same-sex relationships that might impact other areas of federal law. Sessions al
Immigration Advocates to Push Legislation this Summer (Catholic Weekly)
Posted by
uluckidog 1079 days ago
(http://www.americamagazine.org)
A White House summit with congressional leaders scheduled for June 16 is intended to begin the serious push toward creating and passing a comprehensive reform bill. President Obama has said he intends to take up immigration reform this year, but the White House staff has said they don't expect it to be resolved until 2010.
"The benefits this legislation seeks to provide are not contingent upon the definition of marriage, which I believe is an issue best left to the states," said Leahy. The bishop who heads the migration committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in letters to members of Congress on June 2 that the conference would oppose such legislation. Another family reunification bill, the Reuniting Families Act, would allow traditionally defined families to reunite more quickly in the United States.
Leahy's bill, and a companion version in
"The benefits this legislation seeks to provide are not contingent upon the definition of marriage, which I believe is an issue best left to the states," said Leahy. The bishop who heads the migration committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in letters to members of Congress on June 2 that the conference would oppose such legislation. Another family reunification bill, the Reuniting Families Act, would allow traditionally defined families to reunite more quickly in the United States.
Leahy's bill, and a companion version in
Although certain states have taken the progressive step towards granting marriage rights to gay couples, the impact on immigration laws has been zilch. Currently, same sex partners, whether legally married under foreign laws or under the laws of certain U.S. states, are not receiving any immigration benefits as immigration law, along with a few other legal practice areas, is governed entirely by federal statute as opposed to state specific legal rules. Immigration law is controlled by a number of federal regulations such as the Code of Federal Regulations and the Immigration and Nationality Act.
In an unprecedented step towards furthering the fight for equality, Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat from Vermont, introduced a new bill, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), on June 2, 2009. The UAFA aims to allow U.S. Citizens (USC’s) and legal permanent immigrants (LPR’s) to
In an unprecedented step towards furthering the fight for equality, Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat from Vermont, introduced a new bill, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), on June 2, 2009. The UAFA aims to allow U.S. Citizens (USC’s) and legal permanent immigrants (LPR’s) to
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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.