This would be great news..

Immigration equality goes to Congress

Lawmakers on Tuesday reintroduced a bill into Congress to give Americans with same-sex foreign partners equal rights under U.S. immigration law.

The Uniting American Families Act, sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., and Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record), D-Vt., will allow citizens and legal residents in same-sex relationships to sponsor their partners for immigration purposes.

Roughly 75 percent of the "green cards" or immigrant visas now in effect are issued to family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents, according to Immigration Equality and the Human Rights Campaign.

Same-sex couples, however, have no legal status under federal law.

"The promotion of family unity has long been part of federal immigration policy, and this bill promotes that principle by providing all Americans the opportunity to be with their loved ones," said Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality, in a written statement released by the rights groups.

While harsh penalties and the threat of deportation make it difficult for some couples to come forward, a UCLA study based on the 2000 Census reported 35,820 binational same-sex couples in the United States. Nearly a third of them lived in California.

"Our bill recognizes that American families come in all shapes and sizes," Nadler said in the statement. "Our laws should work to keep loving families together and not tear them apart."

At least 19 nations, including the UK, Brazil, Australia and most of Western Europe, provide some immigration benefits to the same-sex partners of citizens and permanent residents, while the United States refuses.

Nadler and Leahy introduced the legislation last year and a similar attempt was made in 2004, but they failed in the then-GOP controlled Congress. (Barbara Wilcox, The Advocate)

This would be absolutely great news if there was a law that passed, that allowed same sex couples to sponsor their partners. I know, that that's the one of many reason why my partner and I decided for me to move here to Australia. The process is very daunting and stressful, but it's well worth it. If I was able to sponsor my partner, I know we'd be home so quick. I'm sure the process wouldn't be easy by any means, but the fact that I had my partner sponsor me here in Australia, that'd make things a lot better.

I sometimes hear stories about other couples, where one is from the States, and they have no way possible, to have their other half come to the States. When I think about it, I wonder how hard the process would be, considering it isn't an easy task with heterosexual couples. I know there would be a lot people trying to "outsmart" the system..but there would also be many genuine couples.

I remember this bill trying to get passed in 2004, and well, considering who was in office, and the fact that the GOP was in both parts of congress..there was no way in heck to have this bill passed. But now that the democrats have majority in both houses, IT MAY look positive.

I will most definitely be keeping my fingers crossed.