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发帖数: 19713 | 1 Will Same-Sex Couples Be Protected In Immigration Reform?
President Obama's immigration reform proposals may include gay couples, but
will Congress take heed?
BY MICHELLE GARCIA JANUARY 29 2013 12:10 PM ET
President Barack Obama is expected to propose that same-sex binational
couples should be able to receive the same citizenship rights that
heterosexual binational couples have.
As Congress ramps up debate on comprehensive immigration reform, Obama's
speech in Las Vegas Tuesday will outline all of his proposals. Buzzfeed
reports that the rights of same-sex couples will be included in his
proposals.
However, Sen. John McCain asserted that including gay rights in the
immigration debate would be a "red flag" that will interfere with bipartisan
support for reforms.
"Well, it's something that is frankly not of paramount importance at this
time," he said to CBS News. "We'll have to look at it, we'll have to gauge
how the majority of Congress feels. But that to me is a red flag that we
will address in time."
McCain added that including immigration equality for all couples in the
sweeping immigration reforms that Congress will consider would deter getting
a broad consensus on the proposed policy changes. The Arizona Republican is
part of a group of eight senators who submitted a basic framework to
address immigration reform. Their proposals address border patrol, defining
clearer paths toward citizenship, and employment verification, among other
issues.
In the House, Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York has been a sponsor of the
Uniting American Families Act for several congressional sessions. The UAFA
would extend immigration rights to same-sex couples and their families.
Nadler told Buzzfeed Monday that it would be "madness" for immigration
reform not to include protections for same-sex couples.
"I will certainly do everything in my power to ensure that that happens," he
said. "LGBT immigration rights are, after all, now supported by a broad
array of legislators from all quarters of Congress and from both parties."
Several major LGBT organizations are also backing a comprehensive and
inclusive push on immigration, including the National Center for Lesbian
Rights, the Human Rights Campaign, Immigration Equality, and the National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The groups issued a joint statement applauding
the upcoming efforts in general, but urged lawmakers to "include the ability
of couples in same-sex relationships to sponsor their spouse or permanent
partner in the same way opposite-sex couples have long been able to under
current immigration law."
Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez of GetEqual also urged Congress to consider inclusive
immigration reform to protect those who come to the U.S. for safety.
"Many immigrants cross the border seeking protection because of their sexual
orientation or gender identity," Sousa-Rodriguez said in a statement Monday
. "As we learn more about the Senate principles and hear President Obama's
immigration framework tomorrow, we hope the President specifically outlines
a proposal that fully integrates the needs of LGBT immigrants in the United
States." | D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 2 今年才开始，重量级新闻此起彼伏，有些目不暇给了，很是overwhelmed. |
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