Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held its first Congressional hearing on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). This bill was re-introduced to the House and Senate by Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on February 12, 2009, and would allow citizens and legal permanent residents to seek residency in the United States for their same-sex partners, just as spouses now petition for foreign-born husbands and wives.
Since the mid sixties, "family reunification" has been a major focus of US immigration policy. Under this policy, Americans may petition for the legal permanent residency of their spouses. However, under the current system, family reunification does not apply to U.S. citizens and their same-gender partners from other countries. If separated, gay and lesbian families trying to re-unify, legally, often face bureaucratic, heartbreaking and often insurmountable challenges.
While this bill could ultimately become part of a larger, comprehensive immigration reform package, it is time that America joined the 19 other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Isreal, South Africa, Spain, and many others, in allowing sponsorship of same sex couples.
