LGBT activists are diving into the immigration reform debate, arguing that the most recent bills proposed by the Gang of Eight unfairly exclude same-sex couples. The bill, introduced to the Senate in April by a group of bipartisan lawmakers, includes provisions to ease legal immigration for highly skilled workers, migrant farmworkers, and family members of U.S. citizens. It does not include measures to accommodate same-sex partners of American citizens.
Since 1996, a law defining marriage as between a man and woman has prevented same-sex married couples from applying for green cards for a foreign spouse – the immigration code does not recognize same-sex partners. Democrats in the Gang of Eight have been conflicted about whether to amend the new immigration bill to make provisions for same-sex couples – Republicans in the Senate who have expressed support for the current bill say that such measures would be a deal breaker.
How should the senate deal with LGBT rights as they relate to immigration reform? Is it worth trying to pass the immigration reform bill with an amendment to include same-sex partners even though it is more likely to fail?
Guests:
Carrie Budoff Brown, a reporter at POLITICO
Ty Cobb, senior legislative counsel at Human Rights Campaign
Luis Alvarado, political strategist for Revolvis and former deputy press secretary for the California Republican Party