From the Out4Immigration email list:
Hey all -
PLEASE CONTACT: Feinstein, Reed, Mendez, & Schumer - to ask that UAFA MOVE
FORWARD stand alone.
Capital Switch Board: (202) 224-3121
I've just learned that a meeting between Feinstein, Reed, Mendez & Schumer is
scheduled for THURSDAY focusing on WHICH stand-alone immigration bills might fly
(probably via attachment to another vehicle such as the Defense Bill or Farm
Worker Safety bill).
DREAM ACT folks are pushing to go forward alone. I spoke with them and
they say LGBT students are HUGELY involved in their work. So they seem
very inclined to join forces, and are definitely open to that conversation.
For now, I think it is useful to CONTACT any leads you have in those Senate
offices - and say UAFA should move this year TOO.
Stalled for several years now, the Uniting American Families Act would allow US citizens in same sex relationships to sponsor their permanent partners for residency. This is something that straight couples may do but same sex couples cannot because the federal government doesn't recognize same sex relationships.
Unfortunately, it appears that comprehensive immigration reform is a non-starter this year so discussions are moving forward about passing individual pieces of legislation. We need to target Feinstein, Reed, Mendez & Schumer right now. If you have any spare time at all, please also call your congress critters and senators this week. Thousands of couples are affected and need your support and compassion.
Your support is also needed for the DREAM Act, which would:
provide certain illegal alien students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. as minors, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency. The alien students would obtain temporary residency for a six year period. Within the six year period, a qualified student must have "acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or [have] completed at least 2 years, in good standing, in a program for a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the United States," or have "served in the uniformed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, [have] received an honorable discharge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Regardless of how you may feel about adult undocumented persons in the US, I ask that you please consider helping their children who have lived here most of their lives and are here through no fault of their own.
Contact numbers-
Sen. Feinstein:
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Sen. Reid:
522 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542
Sen. Menendez:
528 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-4744
Sen. Schumer:
313 Hart Senate Office
Building
Washington D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-6542
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In a fortunate coincidence of timing my partner and I have a meeting with Nancy Pelosi's staff regarding this very topic and our personal situation on Thursday. Wish us luck.