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U.S. immigration legislation prior to the 110th Congress U.S. immigration legislation in the 110th Congress Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007/Amendments STRIVE Act of 2007 CLEAR Act of 2007 SKIL Act of 2007 Uniting American Families Act of 2007 </li> </ul>

The Uniting American Families Act of 2007, or UAFA (H.R.2221; S.1328), is a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation in immigration laws for "permanent partners" (see definition below).

Contents 1 Bill status 2 Bill details 2.1 Bill summary 2.2 Definitions of "permanent partner" and "permanent partnership" 3 Criticism and Commendation 4 Previous legislation 5 Articles and resources 5.1 See also 5.2 References 5.3 External resources 5.4 External articles

Bill status

The UAFA was introduced in the House on May 8, 2007 by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) as H.R.2221.^[1] As of July 2007, the bill had received 81 cosponsors in the House.^[1]

The UAFA was introduced in the Senate on May 8, 2007 by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) as S.1328.^[1] As of July 2007, the bill had received 3 cosponsors in the Senate.^[1]

Bill details

Bill summary

The bill would permit "permanent partners" (see definition below) of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships.^[1]

Definitions of "permanent partner" and "permanent partnership"

The UAFA defines "permanent partner" and "permanent partnership" as follows:

The term "permanent partner" means an individual 18 years of age or older who:

(A) is in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 years of age or older in which both individuals intend a lifelong commitment;

(B) is financially interdependent with that other individual;

(C) is not married to, or in a permanent partnership with, any individual other than that other individual;

(D) is unable to contract with that other individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; and

(E) is not a first, second, or third degree blood relation of that other individual.

The term "permanent partnership" means the relationship that exists between 2 permanent partners.^[1]

Criticism and Commendation

Previous legislation

The Uniting American Families Act or similar legislation has been introduced several times in previous Congresses, but no action was ever taken. Below is a table of the bill's previous introductions.

Congress	Short Title	Bill Number(s)	Date Introduced	Sponsor(s)	# of Cosponsors	Comments
110th Congress	Uniting American Families Act of 2007	H.R.2221[1] S.1328[1]	May 8, 2007	Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)	House=81 Senate=3	Referred to Judiciary Committee(s)
109th Congress	Permanent Partners Immigration Act Uniting American Families Act	H.R.3006[1] S.1278[1]	June 21, 2005		House=115 Senate=13
108th Congress	Permanent Partners Immigration Act of 2003	H.R.832[1] S.1510[1]	July 31, 2003		House=129 Senate=12
107th Congress	Permanent Partners Immigration Act of 2001	H.R.690[1]	February 14, 2001	Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)	House=106
106th Congress	Permanent Partners Immigration Act of 2000	H.R.3650[1]	February 14, 2000		House=59

Articles and resources

See also

References

External resources

• THOMAS: H.R.2221, Library of Congress.
• THOMAS: S.1328, Library of Congress.
• Immigration Equality
• People For The American Way
• National Center for Lesbian Rights
• Out4Immigration
• PFLAG
• Human Rights Campaign
• Human Rights Watch
• Maple Palm movie website (Independent film about the fictional plight of a same-sex, binational couple in the U.S.)
• Through Thick and Thin documentary website (documentary about the immigration struggles of gay and lesbian couples in America)

External articles