The DOMA Repeal Bill offers equal protection to the same sex couples under the existing immigration laws
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed in 1996, had the same sex couples who were lawfully married, subject to discrimination. There were 91 co-sponsors who took active initiative to introduce the Respect for Marriage Act, in the House of Representatives. The President of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solmonese stated in a press release that one of the vital protections with regard to the same-sex legally married couples under this Respect for Marriage Act, is that, they should be awarded “equal protection under U.S. immigration laws”. This bill can prove to be landmark legislation for American citizens as well as their non-American same-sex spouses.
You will find that under the current immigration laws, the same-sex bi-national couples are not allowed to enjoy the same immigration rights as that of the spouses of the American citizens or the lawful permanent residents of the country. In the whole of America, there is a growing support to bring about an end to this sort of discrimination. The Congress has already brought about the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the Reuniting Families Act, which targets to end this discrimination and allow the same-sex partners to attain permanent resident status through the amendment of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The objective is to bring in the ‘permanent partners’ within the purview of these above mentioned Acts. Senator Schumer is drafting this comprehensive immigration legislation.