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A Heart Breaking Life with No Hope for Americans Caused by Gay Rights -Lame US Congress
Melanie Nathan and jerrold nadler at UAFA Hearing 2009
6-24-10 Melanie Nathan
This is a letter copy printed with Permission from the writer – Yet another Horror Story same-sex couples immigration discrimination
Caveat -While this letter was written to rep. Nadler, – This Congressman is in fact the single most supportive member of Congress on the topic of UAFA and other LGBT issues. Not only did he introduce the Uniting American Families Act, for us, but he has appeared in the NYCLU Video featuring Britta and Carla, who received direct help from the Congressman – he continues to advocate for UAFA and our hope is that he will step up now and and lead an emergency reflection on urge Congress to pass UAFA as a stand alone – perhaps in conjunction with the DREAM ACT.
Dear Hon. Rep. Nadler,
The last time I wrote you, I was the CEO of an organization in New Zealand. I am an American citizen who left the United States because my partner of over 8 years is a Venezuelan who spent over a decade trying, unsuccessfully, to navigate the US immigration process. We had no problem gaining permanent residency in New Zealand, a beautiful country but it is “oh so small.”
We have since relocated to Toronto, where I was able to secure employment under a NAFTA-related work visa. While we do not have permanent status in Canada, we are much closer to our extended family. Toronto has been a wonderful city – a cure from the slow pace of New Zealand life – but the fact is that our family still lives in the US and Latin America. On a recent trip to Houston, we flew from Buffalo where my partner was detained at the land border crossing to be surrounded by five armed officers for over 30 minutes ONLY because a Mexican national has the same first, middle and last names AND birthdate as my Venezuelan partner. And this episode occurs on EVERY entry into the United States, even though the two do not hold similar passports or visas. CBP simply cannot figure out that my partner’s passport and VALID US tourist visa are not at fault, but they seem content to waste time on a case that leads nowhere EVERY time we enter the country.
Worse yet, every time we enter the country, I have to pretend to be a friend, coworker, or innocent stranger observing from nearby, as I know full well that the consequences of revealing us as a same sex couple could result in a worse punishment than if we were confirmed terrorists.
And while I cannot live in my own country with my partner, I still have to pay taxes on foreign wages earned abroad – what other country exiles its own citizens only to tax their foreign-earned wages?
UAFA, or some form of equal and humane treatment of bi-national same sex couples, must pass, and it must pass soon. There are those who suggest people in my situation are being impatient, but I simply don’t have a lifetime to wait for Congress to make the right decision. And I can’t tolerate an hour at the border between Ontario and New York while five armed guards interrogate an innocent Venezuelan for having the same name as a Mexican convict when they fundamentally know that they are chasing the wrong suspect.
This is not acceptable! I know you have worked hard for equality, but I beg you to put an extra ounce of energy into the cause.
Kind regards,
Keith Hall
Posted by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
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4 Responses to A Heart Breaking Life with No Hope for Americans Caused by Gay Rights -Lame US Congress
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karla gonzalez
June 25, 2010 at 2:26 am
I agree with Melanie that we need to do more to get the word out. My partner is currently in Mexico unable to even get a visa because she has already tried 2 times, and both times has been turned down. Congressmen state that this opens up the possibility of fraud. Don’t straight people do that as well. I know many couples that have married in order to have the non-American get their permanent resident status, and once this is gained they divorce. And no one comes down on them as they to us, just because we choose to be open about the people we love and want to be with. I’m more than willing to go down to Mexico, marry whom I already consider my wife if that will shut their mouths. I love my wife and ever since the day we met I knew she was the one that I wanted to grow old with, and if UAFA is not passed any time soon, I will be forced to choose between being here or moving to Mexico.
I created a Facebook group, to go along with the many other ones in Facebook dealing with this subject. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128980170465764
I’m also working with some couples that live in exile, or are in limbo going back and forth like my partner and I are, in making a documentary style video. I think that the more information we get out there, the better chances we have at putting pressure on the legislators. I was not completely aware of UAFA, until 1 week ago. And trust me when I say that I have been looking EVERYWHERE on anything that could give my wife and I some light on this dark path. Please feel free to contact me if you know of anyone that may be interested in participating on the documentary. my email is : kgonzalez@mamproducciones.com
Thanks.
Madison Reed
June 24, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Melanie,
While reading this I was literally beginning to feel nauseated. I am filled with rage over this inexcusable prolonged and deliberate injustice against all of us. But even more, disgusted, when our own people (from the LGBT community) tell us that we should be more patient, and give diplomacy a chance. We must have a solution very soon….
We need an emergency presidential executive order to, at the very least, put into place an interim stop-gap binational visa for the partners or spouses of the binationals who are now affected by this pogrom. Our relationship are already known, or can be easily documented by LGBT organizations. Our relationships are real. They’re solid. LGBT organizations can help the White House identify us, and submit our names and biographical data. Obama needs to address our issue. We need our lives restored now – not next year or after a new task of burdensome and tricky documentation, additional expense and who–nows what type of bureaucratic hoop-jumping interviews under the aegis of immigration officers that could be LGBT haters. We need to get on with our lives. Is the United States really so selfish and mean-spirited that it can’t act quickly and solve our nightmare situation?
We need at the very least, the binational visa benefit for our partners, this year! What or whom does it harm to do this? The answer: Nothing and no one.
Please sign our Binational Visa Petition @ Change.org. If you’re the President, or a Member of Congress reading this, please do something for us! http://www.change.org/petitions/view/special_visa_for_binational_lgbt_spouse-perma-partners
Melanie Nathan
June 24, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Madison and Staurt we have to do more on our own. I am trying to draw attention by writing, but its not enough- I have posted three articles today – and I appreciate all the comments we can get. I have a new one and it will be up soon – it will blow this shit out of the water….
Stuart
June 24, 2010 at 4:05 pm
And, yes, in addition to blaming the do-nothing Democrats in Congress — don’t forget our President as well — to quote Jim Carville recently…”And it just looks like he’s not involved in this! Man, you have got to get down here and take control of this!…Put somebody in charge of this and get this thing moving! We’re about to die down here!”