Immigration Law Debate Heats Up

The Houston Chronicle posted an article late last night on the important topic of the lack of immigration rights for same-sex couples.

There is pending legislation in Congress dubbed the Uniting American Families Act, which “would create a new category in immigration law for ‘permanent partners’ and offer same-sex couples the same benefits for immigration purposes as heterosexual couples,” said the story.

John Nechman, a Houston attorney who specializes in gay and lesbian immigration issues, said the legislation is about equal rights and family unification, and could help reduce flight of same-sex couples to the 19 countries that offer them some immigration benefits.

“It would stop the bleeding in many ways,” he said.

But the bill is facing heated opposition by anti-immigration advocates, who say it could potentially lead to fraud. A strong voice in the pro-immigrant movement, the Catholic Church, also has taken a stand against the bill, based on the belief that marriage is strictly between a man and a woman, said Kevin Appleby, migration policy director for U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

He added that the church, long supportive of a comprehensive immigration reform bill, sees the push for same-sex couples as giving “opponents another arrow in their quiver.”

“The last thing the immigration debate needs is another politically divisive issue,” Appleby said. “Immigration is controversial enough, and to add another issue of national interest that is also controversial could be combustible.”

The article spotlights the plight of Joseph Racicot and his partner, Roland, who will be “celebrating” their eight anniversary as a couple this Tuesday some 1,500 miles apart from one another. Check out the link above for the full story.

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