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Does Immigration Equality Really think Comprehensive Immigration Reform can pass in Lame Duck!

A Video Interview with Rachel Tiven on Brian Lehrer’s show furthers concerns for binational families -

Melanie Nathan 11-22-2010- The Documentary depicting the plight of binational couples tells the story of a couple saying goodbye.  Sadly the real emotion is lost to privacy. But that is perhaps one of many reasons why we see such little  coverage of the issue. Or is it purely due to ineffective leadership;  Rachel Tiven, Executive Director of Immigration Equality offers the answers to the immigration equality plight of same-sex partners in an interview with  Brian Lehrer. Sadly, since Tiven’s debacled interview on the Bill O’Reilly show some years back, she has yet to receive mainstream media interest in the cause which she purports to lead on.  Tiven directs one of the only advocacy organizations which has a budget and mission to represent and lead on LGBT equality immigration issues, having recently acquired advocacy status.    Her success in diminishing the Uniting American Families Act’s (UAFA)  standing as a real possibility during the lame duck session, came when she and her handful of operators decided that UAFA and the binational same-sex couple interests would be best served in the Comprehensive Immigration reform which had yet to include UAFA, (despite promises by Gutierrez)  in the House version of the Bill.

There is a severe contradiction in Tiven’s advocacy which fails to present in the Video – to anyone other than those of us ‘in the know,’ which would include thousand of binational couples who are not duped by her continued support of UAFA in the larger immigration reform Bill.

Rachel Tiven and Immigration Equality continue to deprive LGBT same-sex couples of  fair and equal advocacy. Tiven is saying one thing and doing another; she is suggesting in the Video that Senator Patrick Leahy in trying to bring Immigration Equality to the Lame duck, stands a chance a. of bringing it and b. of passing it, with UAFA in there.  Does that mean she believes that amnesty for 12 million undocumented people, biometric cards, and border control and green cards for gays and lesbians (LGBT) can happen in the next 15 days?

In stark contrast is the recent conference call with donating supporters where Tiven said it is unlikely that we would see passage of Immigration Reform for AT LEAST another year or more.  This coment was confirmed when Out4Immigration’s Kathy Drasky spoke to Julie Kruse of IE (also in video) for clarity.  What makes things even more confusing is that while Tiven and her crew are happy to leave UAFA in the bigger Immigration reform, (CIR) they have lobbied for and requested their supporters to call for DREAM act (a non equality and only Immigration related bill) to be a stand alone in this lame duck session.

Rachel Tiven has yet to be invited to mainstream TV on the issue and she leads the major leading organization for advocacy on the issue.  When she does get on I hope it will be with someone who is well informed enough to get some clear policy out of her because this is how it stands with IE from now -  questions, questions and more questions-AND I am seriously confused….

1. UAFA is not up as a stand alone and if it is why are they not talking about it? Steve Ralls in a recent blog mentioned it should be considered for a stand alon- but their is no consistent message from IE;

2. Immigration Equality is only  advocating for UAFA as a bill that can pass if included in CIR only- while DREAM  ACT is  being pushed as a stand alone – why? Who got us here should un-get us there?

3. If IE is asking that DREAM ACT be a stand alone- why has it failed to insist on UAFA in the same way as it has for DREAM

4. Does Tiven, and the Immigration equality Crew honestly believe that UAFA can pass in CIR this lame duck session? If not then why have they failed to take UAFA on its own much needed journey?

5. Why did Tiven tell us CIR is impossible and then imply its the only hope for binationals during this lame duck session.

6. Is Tivn effective – is her strategy working  or should she resign and hand this over to someone who is willing to fight for our binational interests not sell out in the name of friendship with the greater immigration community. Maybe the advocacy for binationals should be severed form IE’s mission, so that other groups can take over the mess.

7. My final question is where are all the other organizations on this?

Watch the Video and see if you think Tiven has any fight in her. Personally I think she is a waste of our time and dollars. So I am holding her to CIR and Lamed Duck and if that does not happen, then RACHEL TIVEN you really should resign or turn your organization into an asylum only organization and give every single bi-national who donated money to IE their money back so they can buy plane tickets to visit their beloved partners stuck abroad for the holidays.

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WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

S07E10b from Brian Lehrer Live on Vimeo.

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S07E10b from Brian Lehrer Live on Vimeo.

Melanie Nathan
commissionermnathan@gmail.com
www.privatecourts.com

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