Zoe Lofgren calls on Obama to end deportations of same-sex partners

[Bluebear]

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a San Jose Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, and ranking member on the panel with oversight over immigration affairs, asked the Obama administration today to lay off deportations of same-sex partners of U.S. citizens. The letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was signed by 47 House members.

Lofgren argued that in light of the administration's decision to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars all federal benefits, including immigration rights, to same-sex couples, such deportations should be stopped. She said until the courts decide DOMA's fate, or it is repealed, the administration should exercise its prosecutorial discretion to stop proceedings against legally married partners seeking immigration rights.

Lofgren and Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, are also cosponsors of a bill introduced today to allow citizens and legal residents to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration.

The "Uniting American Families Act" is sponsored by Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-NY. The Human Rights Campaign says census figures estimate that 36,000 lesbian and gay Americans are in bi-national couples.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=87093#ixzz1JqtaClYh