New York City Council Calls for LGBT-Inclusive CIR

By Rachel Tiven on 04/27/2010 @ 09:09 AM

Tags: Allies, CIR Update, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, UAFA

I was proud to testify on Monday morning in front of the New York City Council’s Immigration Committee. The Committee had proposed a resolution calling on Congress – and in particular New York’s own senior Senator, Chuck Schumer – to move forward with Comprehensive Immigration Reform that includes all families.

I described the consequences of immigration discrimination faced by tens of thousands of LGBT families – including at least 5,000 New York couples. The Committee heard from many other excellent immigration advocates, including: NYC’s Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, Fatima Shama; NYCLU’s Udi Ofer; Nerissa Kunakemakorn of Opportunity Agenda; Afton Branch from Drum Major Insitute; plus other wonderful colleagues from Make the Road New York, the New York LGBT Center, the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, and longtime gay activist Brendan Fay, among others.

The Committee approved the resolution, which goes to the full City Council on Wednesday.

At Pam’s House Blend: Local City Councils Stand Up for Binational Families

By Steve Ralls on 04/22/2010 @ 10:40 AM

Tags: UAFA

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” – Charles Dickens

There has been much attention, in recent days, focused on the truly heinous anti-immigrant law passed by the Arizona legislature. The law – which gives law enforcement authority to question anyone they “suspect” may be undocumented – is by far the worst in the country, and puts the state squarely in the business of government-sanctioned racial profiling (as well as the business of ignoring the fourth and fourteenth amendments of the constitution).

It is, quite simply, the starkest reminder in a while of the anti-immigrant sentiment that still lives in too many corners of our country.

Thankfully, however, it is not a sentiment shared by local elected leaders everywhere.

In recent weeks, a growing number of local governments have quietly endorsed a critical piece of legislation for immigrant families: City councils across the country have passed resolutions urging Congress to pass the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would end discrimination against LGBT binational couples. A dozen cities have now endorsed UAFA, and more are expected to do so in the near future.

The move is more than symbolic, too. It is helping to build support for ending discriminatory immigration laws that keep loving couples apart.

Continue reading this post at Pam’s House Blend . . .

Two More Cities Pass Resolutions for UAFA

By Connie Utada on 04/07/2010 @ 11:21 AM

Tags: Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Allies, Immigrant Economy, In The News, The Media, UAFA

As we progress into Spring, the momentum for Comprehensive Immigration Reform continues to grow. Both cities of Minneapolis, MN and Cambridge, MA recently passed resolutions proclaiming their support for the passage of the Uniting American Families Act. Immigration Equality supporter Debbie Ellis testified at the city council hearing in support of the Cambridge resolution. Thank you, Debbie!

Big thanks to the amazing work of the grassroots who reached out to their city councils and made this happen! It is their passionate commitment to UAFA that has led to these cities passing resolutions.

Please reach out to your local city councils if you would like to pass a resolution.