The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings beginning at 10am tomorrow on the Uniting American Families Act, which seeks to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permittingpermanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanentresidents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manneras spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents:
Immigration Equality: "Wednesday's hearing will feature Shirley Tan, a Filipinamother of 12-year-old twins from Pacifica, Calif., who is facingdeportation despite having been with her partner for 23 years. ThoughTan's children and partner are American citizens, she cannot besponsored for residency because her partner is female. Unless Congresstakes action to pass UAFA, Tan will be forced to return to thePhilippines. Joining Tan as a witness will also beGordon Stewart, a native of Vermont who was forced to sell his family'sfarm and relocate to London to be with his partner, who is Brazilian.Stewart, who transferred his job with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals to theUnited Kingdom, has been welcomed in that country, where his partnerreceived a visa to be with him. Under U.S. immigration law, his partnerwas unable to join him in the United States, and Stewart was forced toleave his family behind to be with the person he loves. Other witnessesinclude Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for theAdvancement of Colored People (NAACP) and attorney Christopher Nugent,who will represent the American Bar Association (ABA)."
I've reposted our January interview with Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the chief author of the UAFA, AFTER THE JUMP…
