Text of AZ HM 2004 (2008)

REFERENCE TITLE: uniting American families act; adopt State of Arizona House of Representatives Forty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session 2008 HM 2004 Introduced by Representatives Gallardo, Lopez, Lujan, Pancrazi, Sinema: Ableser, Brown, Campbell CH, Chabin, Farley, Meza, Prezelski A memorial urging the united states congress to enact the uniting american families act. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE) To the Congress and President of the United States of America: Your memorialist respectfully represents: Whereas, the United States immigration system is built on the principle of family unification; and Whereas, under the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, United States citizens or legal permanent residents may sponsor their spouse for immigration to the United States; and Whereas, same-sex partnerships are not recognized for federal immigration purposes, meaning United States citizens or legal permanent residents in same-sex relationships cannot sponsor their partner for immigration benefits; and Whereas, an estimated 35,820, of the 594,391 same-sex unmarried partners counted in the 2000 census include one citizen and one noncitizen; and Whereas, these couples continue to face the threat of one member’s removal from the United States; and Whereas, the inability of United States citizens or legal permanent residents in same-sex relationships to sponsor their partner for immigration benefits, even if their relationship is legally recognized through marriage, civil union or domestic partnership by one of the 50 states, is a discriminatory practice that often forces couples to separate or to move abroad in order to stay together; and Whereas, the Uniting American Families Act seeks to fulfill the promise of family unification in the United States immigration system by extending immigration eligibility to the foreign-born same-sex "permanent partners" of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents; and Whereas, to qualify as a "permanent partner" under the Uniting American Families Act, a person must be able to show a relationship with another adult in which both parties intend a life-long commitment, financial interdependence, exclusivity, inability to marry in a manner that is "cognizable" under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and absence of close blood relationship; and Whereas, the United States Congress and President have the ability to strengthen the families of binational, same-sex couples by enacting the Uniting American Families Act. Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, prays: 1. That the Congress and the President of the United States adopt the Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 2221 and S. 1328) to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships. 2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.