File #: Res 0591-2004    Version: * Name: Amend the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Immigration
On agenda: 9/28/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution supporting S. 1510 and H.R. 832, the Permanent Partners Immigration Act of 2003, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow United States citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their permanent partners for legal residence in the United States.
Sponsors: Margarita Lopez, Tony Avella, Philip Reed, Bill Perkins, Miguel Martinez, Letitia James, Alan J. Gerson, Charles Barron, Christine C. Quinn, Robert Jackson, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, James F. Gennaro, John C. Liu, Annabel Palma
Council Member Sponsors: 15

Res. No. 591

 

Resolution supporting S. 1510 and H.R. 832, the Permanent Partners Immigration Act of 2003, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow United States citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their permanent partners for legal residence in the United States.

 

By Council Member Lopez, Avella, Reed, Perkins, Martinez, James, Gerson, Barron, Quinn, Jackson, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, Liu and Palma

 

                     

Whereas, According to data from the 2000 United States Census, approximately 35,820 of approximately 594,391 same-sex, permanent partner couples living in the United States are bi-national couples; and

Whereas, Thousands of bi-national couples cannot legally live together in the United States and have no choice but to reside in other countries or remain separated due to current United States immigration law; and

Whereas, Current immigration law enables United States citizens or permanent residents to sponsor the immigration of a foreign spouse to the United States but does not allow United States citizens to sponsor foreign, same-sex permanent partners; and

Whereas, In February 2003, Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York reintroduced the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (“H.R. 832”), which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide a mechanism for United States citizens or permanent residents to sponsor the residence of permanent partners in the same manner that they could spouses; and

Whereas, In July 2003, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont introduced companion legislation also known as the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (“S. 1510”) in the Senate; and

Whereas, Under H.R. 832/S. 1510, the term “permanent partner” would include any individual 18 years of age or older who is in a committed, financially interdependent, intimate relationship with another individual 18 years of age or older in which both parties intend a lifelong commitment; is not married to or in a permanent partnership with anyone else; is not related to the other individual; and is legally unable to marry the other individual under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and

Whereas, H.R. 832/S. 1510 would require evidence of partnership, would give foreign permanent partners a two-year conditional residency and require an interview before granting green cards, and would impose criminal penalties on those committing fraud; and

Whereas, As of August 24, 2004, the Permanent Partners Immigration Act had 123 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 11 cosponsors in the Senate; and

Whereas, Sixteen countries currently recognize same-sex couples for immigration purposes, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, and Great Britain; and

Whereas, The city of Los Angeles and the California State Senate recently passed resolutions in support of the Permanent Partners Immigration Act; and

Whereas, Passage of H.R. 832/S. 1510 would encourage lawful family reunification, a high priority for immigration policymakers, and provide equality for persons whose rights have been deprived solely on the basis of sexual orientation; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports S. 1510 and H.R. 832, the Permanent Partners Immigration Act of 2003, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow United States citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their permanent partners for legal residence in the United States.

 

 

 

 

LS#1547

8/24/04

SJS