June 2, 2009
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its more than
half a million members and activists and 53 affiliates nationwide, we urge
you to cosponsor S. 424, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).
S. 424 Modifies U.S. Immigration Policy to Apply Equal Standards to
the Permanent Partners of all Americans
Under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, citizens and permanent
legal residents can sponsor their spouses for immigration purposes.
However, because same-sex partners of U.S. citizens are not considered
“spouses,” gay U.S. citizens and permanent residents are barred from
sponsoring their partners. As a result, relationships and families are
inevitably