WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) once again signed on as a cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 519), formerly know as the Permanent Partners Immigration Act. The UAFA would allow U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor a permanent partner for immigration purposes. Under current law only married heterosexuals can be sponsors to obtain immigration residence status.
“Families are being torn apart because of unequal treatment suffered by LGBT couples.” said Davis. “Acceptance of immigration status should not be based on whom you love. I’ve heard from so many of my constituents who are distraught at losing someone they have been committed to for years because our immigration systems views them differently than married heterosexual couples.”
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and a bipartisan coalition of members of the House of Representatives introduced the Uniting American Families Act. While the UAFA would provide equal immigration benefits to LGBT partnerships that exist for married heterosexual couples, it would impose the same enforcement standards and restrictions under current immigration law.
