“This legislation would simply update our nation’s immigration laws to treat bi-national couples equally. More than two dozen countries recognize same-sex couples for immigration purposes. This important civil rights legislation would help prevent committed, loving families from being forced to choose between leaving their family or leaving their country.”Right now, under current immigration code, only straight Americans can sponsor their spouses for US residency; those rights, as are most rights, aren't available to gay Americans. Still, passage of UAFA remains unlikely given the current makeup--read GOP makeup--of Congress, but, with her announcement, Susan Collins becomes the only Republican in either chamber of Congress to back UAFA.
Her co-sponsorship of UAFA is also noteworthy because in 2010 she was among the “no” votes on another immigration-related bill called the DREAM Act, which would have offered young, undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship if they pursue a college education or military service.
Maybe, one day, she'll change that vote.
via The Washington Blade
I had not heard of that legislation.
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