Despite calls from LGBT and immigrant rights groups, the draft immigration reform legislation released by the Senate “Gang of 8” doesn’t include provisions that would allow same-sex couples to access the nation’s visa and immigration system.Under the current immigration system, individuals cannot sponsor a same-sex partner or spouse for a family visa, effectively forcing many families into exile abroad. This is codified by the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which is now under review by the Supreme Court, and activists have been pushing lawmakers to include provisions expanding rights to gay couples in the immigration bill.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=90009