By doing so, the bill would allow gay or lesbian citizens to sponsor their partners to become U.S. residents without relying on state or federal recognition of gay marriage. While this legislation did not receive a welcome reception in the just-ended 106th Congress, the bill's supporters have pledged to try again in the 107th Congress. U.S. immigration policy should establish fair standards that apply equally to the permanent partners of all American citizens. Now some foreigners that are persecuted in their homelands simply for being gay can petition for asylum. The Nadler bill is an appropriate next step toward establishing equality in immigration standards for gay men and lesbians.
Family unification is at the heart of U.S. immigration law.
Approximately 75 percent of the 1 million green cards and immigrant visas issued each year go to family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. However, the INS's current definition of family excludes same-sex partners. This bill seeks to recognize the reality that a gay couple is a family. The U.S. lags behind other democracies in extending fair treatment in immigration policies to gay couples. Thirteen other countries currently allow the gay partners of their citizens to become permanent residents, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom.