Why We Need the Uniting American Families Act

I mentioned last week that the Washington Post had come out in support of the Uniting American Families Act, which would allow people to sponsor their same-sex partner for immigration.

Here, via Immigration Equality, is why we need this law—parents and children torn apart:

March 27, 2009 – Immigration Equality today spoke out about a California family that may soon be torn apart. Due to immigration laws that discriminate against lesbian and gay couples, Shirley Tan will likely be deported April 3, separating her from her life partner Jay Mercado, their twelve-year-old twin sons, and Jay’s mother, for whom Shirley is the primary caretaker. The deportation will send Shirley back to the Philippines, where she was a victim of extreme violence.

“From the moment my sons were born we have never been apart. It’s tearing me apart to have to leave without them,” said Shirley.

Unlike married straight Americans, Jay cannot sponsor her life partner for immigration. The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) would remedy this discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans and allow them to sponsor their partners for immigration. The bill, introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy in the House and Rep. Jerrold Nadler in the Senate, has 107 additional cosponsors in the House and Senate.

Shirley and Jay are also seeking a private bill from their members of Congress, so that they can stay together in the U.S. or have time to make plans to uproot their family and move together to another country. . . .

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA-12) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who represent Shirley and Jay in Congress, have cosponsored the Uniting American Families Act. . . .

Victoria Neilson, Immigration Equality’s Legal Director, stated, “There may be no options for this family under existing law. How can they explain to their children that the U.S. Government does not consider them a family?”

This week, the White House issued a statement about the Uniting American Families Act, saying “[President Obama] thinks Americans with partners from other countries should not be faced with a painful choice between staying with their partner or staying in their country.”

37 thousand couples across the nation face similar circumstances.

And how many children stand to lose a parent because of this? Best interests, people.