What's At Stake?

Keep LGBT Families Together - Support the Reuniting Families Act

UNITING AMERICAN FAMILIES ACT, H.R. 1025/S. 424

NEW BILL: REUNITING AMERICAN FAMILIES ACT

The Problem

Today, gay and lesbian Americans cannot sponsor their foreign born partners for immigration, no matter how long they have been together or how committed their relationship. U.S. immigration law is based on the principle of “family unification.” Accordingly, it allows Americans to reunite with their parents, children, and spouses by sponsoring these family members for immigration. Gay and lesbian families are not afforded this basic dignity.

Over 37,000 couples are affected by this discrimination according to the 2000 Census. The median age for individuals in a binational lesbian or gay relationship is 38 years old. These are mature, committed relationships.

Many gay and lesbian Americans in binational relationships have aging parents and must make difficult decisions between managing their parents’ health or remaining with their partner.

46% of gay and lesbian binational couples are raising children in the home.

With no ability to sponsor their partners, Americans are being forced abroad: taking their tax base, their talent, and enterprise to one of the 19 countries that offer immigration benefits for same-sex partners.

The Remedy: the Uniting American Families Act

The Uniting American Families Act of 2009 (UAFA) ends immigration discrimination against lesbian and gay Americans by allowing them to sponsor their permanent partners for immigration. UAFA (S. 424/H.R. 1024) was introduced on February 12, 2009 in the Senate by Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and in the House of Representatives by Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).

To qualify for benefits, permanent partners, like married couples, would need to prove their emotional and financial commitment through rigorous documentation. Applicants for permanent partnership benefits would face the same interview process that married couples face. Gay and lesbian binational couples would also face the same criminal penalties for fraud –imprisonment for up to five years and a $250,000 fine – as married couples. Additionally, to ensure the foreign national does not become a public charge, the American partner would be required to sign an affidavit committing to support the foreign national partner for ten years, even if the partnership ends.

The Uniting American Families Act does not redefine marriage and it would not repeal the Defense of Marriage Act law.

NEW LEGISLATION: Reuniting American Families Act

Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), a long-time champion of the LGBT community, will soon introduce The Reuniting Families Act. This landmark immigration bill ends harmful practices – such as long visa wait times and discrimination against LGBT families – that prevent loving families from being together.

In an historic move, Congressman Honda has included lesbian and gay people as part of this remarkable legislation . . . marking the first time in Congressional history that lesbian and gay couples have been included as part of a multi-issue immigration bill.

As our country begins a conversation about comprehensive immigration reform, this important first step helps to ensure that, moving forward, we’re included, too. The President supports us, and Congress is increasingly on our side. Now, our community can be part of fixing our nation’s broken immigration system by supporting their efforts.

For more information, please visit www.immigrationequality.org.

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