Uniting American Families Act
Immigration Equality has been the principal advocate for the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA, H.R. 1024, S. 424). They have worked to introduce the legislation, educated Congress members about the need for passage and documented Americans and their families affected by the issue. Immigration Equality has been lobbying for the act since 2000 which would allow "same-sex 'permanent partners' to present documents – joint tax filings, property records, bank accounts – to prove their relationship and petition for a green card" the same as heterosexual couples are able to do. The group placed a warning notice regarding same-sex marriage on the group's website as getting married might actually be more problematic for bi-national same-sex couples. John Nechman, co-chair of Immigration Equality explained "|any of the problems related to legal civil-unions have to do with “intent” under the law. “If they go and marry, when that person goes to apply for an adjustment of status or a new F1 visa, there is going to be a question as to whether he is married. And if he puts down no, he has just committed fraud. If he puts down yes, they’re going to want to know info about the spouse; and if he’s applying for a new F1, that means temporary intent. By putting down a U.S. spouse, that means that you’re intending to stay." In July 2007 executive director Rachel B. Tiven was interviewed on Fox News' political talkshow The O'Reilly Factor about the legislation.
There are currently 115 cosponsors of this legislation in the House of Representatives and 20 cosponsors in the Senate.
Read more about this topic: Immigration Equality (organization)
Famous quotes containing the words uniting, american, families and/or act:
“The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working people, of all nations, and tongues, and kindreds.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
“I believe no satirist could breathe this air. If another Juvenal or Swift could rise up among us tomorrow, he would be hunted down. If you have any knowledge of our literature, and can give me the name of any man, American born and bred, who has anatomised our follies as a people, and not as this or that party; and who has escaped the foulest and most brutal slander, the most inveterate hatred and intolerant pursuit; it will be a strange name in my ears, believe me.”
—Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
“The man who promised to reinforce American families is now eager to pull the plug on Big Bird and Barney.”
—Leslie Harris, U.S. political activist. As quoted in Newsweek magazine, p. 23 (December 19, 1994)
“The last act is bloody, however pleasant all the rest of the play is: a little earth is thrown at last upon our head, and that is the end forever.”
—Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)