Patrick Leahy: “Today I am introducing the Permanent Partners Immigration Act, a Senate companion to legislation that Representative…”

“Today I am introducing the Permanent Partners Immigration Act, a Senate companion to legislation that Representative Nadler of New York has introduced in the House for each of the last three Congresses. This legislation would allow U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to petition for their foreign same-sex partners to come to the United States under our family immigration system. I am pleased to be joined in introducing this bill by Senators Jeffords, Feingold, Kennedy, and Kerry. Under current law, committed partners of Americans are unable to use the family immigration system, which accounts for about 75 percent of the green cards and immigrant visas granted annually by the United States. As a result, gay Americans who are in this situation must live apart from their partners, or leave the country if they want to live legally and permanently with them. This bill rectifies that situation, while retaining strong prohibitions against fraud. To qualify as a permanent partner, petitioners must prove that they are at least 18 and in a committed, intimate relationship with another adult in which both parties intend a lifelong commitment, and are financially interdependent with one's partner. They must also prove that they are not married to, or in a permanent partnership with, anyone other than that person, and are unable to contract with that person a marriage cognizable under the Immigration and Nationality Act.”