Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) applauds U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois for announcing his support for federal legislation that extends immigration benefits to same-sex partners of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

Rep. Gutierrez announced his support for the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the inclusion of its provisions in comprehensive immigration reform during a press conference today at the Center on Halsted in Chicago. He was joined by Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois and Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado. Gutierrez specifically stated that no comprehensive immigration reform legislation should move forward without UAFA's provisions. He committed to including these provisions in a new comprehensive immigration bill if reform is pushed to next year's Congress.

“Representative Gutierrez is Congress's leading voice on immigration reform and we welcome his support for truly comprehensive immigration reform that includes all families, including those lead by bi-national same-sex couples,” said Eric Berndt, supervising attorney for NIJC’s National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities.

Gutierrez introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act in December 2009. The legislation includes important due process and human rights measures that are critical to realizing truly comprehensive immigration reform. NIJC met with Gutierrez in November 2009 to urge the congressman to include UAFA in CIR ASAP. The organization continued to press Gutierrez to support LGBT-inclusive reform up until a second meeting in May 2010, when he indicated he would announce his commitment to UAFA.

UAFA would create the category of “permanent partners” in immigration law, which would apply to committed same-sex partners. A foreign national permanent partner could receive the same immigration benefits and path to citizenship as a foreign national spouse. Children of the partners would also be eligible for immigration benefits. UAFA has previously been introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives, where it has 123 co-sponsors, and the U.S. Senate, where it has 23 co-sponsors. It also was included in a framework for immigration reform released by Senator Chuck Schumer in April 2010.

To arrange interviews with Berndt or with NIJC clients who are bi-national same-sex couples and can speak to the importance of LGBT-inclusive comprehensive immigration reform, contact Tara Tidwell Cullen at 312-660-1337 or by email.

Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center provides direct legal services to and advocates for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers through policy reform, impact litigation, and public education. For more information visit www.immigrantjustice.org.