Queers and Immigration

[Sparkle]

This is a good article and I'm really-really glad there is a wave of new press articles being done on Queer Immigration; but I have to say the title of the article irks me. And while I'm very pleased the NYT wrote/published this piece I feel they should have shown more care, the title suggests that the writer did not understand the issue.

Using the term "shortcut" in the title makes it sound as though the legal immigration issues queer binational couples face are merely irritating or perhaps tiresome, "Oh dear, darling, I guess we'll have to take the long way 'round since they've blocked off that avenue".

But the truth is, our complete lack of legal rights has nothing to do with "shortcuts", there are no legal protections or legal options in the United States that allow a foreign national partner to remain in the country based upon their relationship, none. zero. And there never have been any.

And the idea that there are "shortcuts" to green cards for anyone (queer or otherwise) is also laughable in this climate of rampant xenophobia and locked down borders.

[Kätzchen]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

This is a good article and I'm really-really glad there is a wave of new press articles being done on Queer Immigration; but I have to say the title of the article irks me. And while I'm very pleased the NYT wrote/published this piece I feel they should have shown more care, the title suggests that the writer did not understand the issue.

Using the term "shortcut" in the title makes it sound as though the legal immigration issues queer binational couples face are merely irritating or perhaps tiresome, "Oh dear, darling, I guess we'll have to take the long way 'round since they've blocked off that avenue".

But the truth is, our complete lack of legal rights has nothing to do with "shortcuts", there are no legal protections or legal options in the United States that allow a foreign national partner to remain in the country based upon their relationship, none. zero. And there never have been any.

And the idea that there are "shortcuts" to green cards for anyone (queer or otherwise) is also laughable in this climate of rampant xenophobia and locked down borders.

For a long time now, my regard for The New York Times continues to fall in terms of whether it's a good thing to regard their news agency's brand of politics: For example, Immigration law and policy. I share the sentiment you express about far reaching implications of the title and content of this particular article. When I see a long revered newspaper allowing and appropriating this kind of journalistic think-tank, especially when it seems that agency watchdog groups are not holding them accountable for 'news' which expresses this type of prejudicial bias, I find myself wondering how deep the climate of xenophobic sentiment is shared among agencies who partner with national sources of media (such as the NYT) and what it takes to hold them to a higher standard of journalism.

[Sparkle]

A dear friend of mine has just published a memoir telling her love story, which includes the legal struggles she and her partner face as a bi-national queer couple. While telling her story, she weaves in the hidden histories of queer men and women who walked the same streets she and her partner do today.

It's a great book and a quick read and if you've been affected by issues surrounding immigration or marriage you'll find it particularly compelling. I'd go on and brag and say more but I don't want to be done for wanton promotion!

http://amzn.com/B00B8IODYM

The book is called 'Ghost Wife: A Memoir of Love and Defiance'

In the United States, it is only available on kindle, currently.

[Greyson]

I am posting links to two new articles about USA Immigration Reform. Currently there is a Bi-Partisan group working on Immigration Reform to put forward in the US Congress and Senate.

Democrats appear to be concerned with proposed cutting back of Family Visas that in the past and currently have included brothers, sisters, parents and married children.

Republicans are proposing the numbers for Family Immigration be cut back in order to increase Job related Visas that require a higher "skill" level. They want the focus for increased job related Visas to be in Math, Science, Computer Sciences.

What does it mean for Queers? Honestly, I am not sure Same-Sex couples are even still included in the current Immigration Reform talks or have our interest been put aside, again, and the focus still remains on heterosexuals. Most of us here know that as long as DOMA is current law, Queers and their partners are still in the eyes of the Federal law, Less then Equal.

Unlike other topics discussed here in our community, I have not seen many posts expressing how people feel, think about USA Immigration Law and Policy. Yes, this can be a very sensitive and "hot" topic.

However the Immigration Reform may unfold, I want Same-Sex couples, Queers to be considered in this debate, reform. I am very tired of us, our families, our education or lack there of, not being given the same consideration as heterosexual couples, "families."

There in lies one of the rubs. In these articles you will read about the importance of "family." The cornerstone of American Immigration, "Family." Yes, as long as your family is considered to be the "traditional" family. Meaning legally married and heterosexual. Then you can bring in the adult children, the aged parents and your siblings. It does not matter if they lack "skills."

Now, let's go to the Visas that cover jobs. Who has these skills, education? Think about it. Yes, I would make a guess that Queers are included in this set. Our sexuality does not matter as long as we have the skills. If you are a poor Queer with lack of skills.......... well you see the picture here.

Please think about these things. Whether your world is directly impacted by Immigration Law or not, your life, your quality of life really is impacted. Our planet is getting smaller and smaller. None of us can continue to ignore the world around us. Thanks for reading this.

__________________________________________________ ________

Immigration reform dilemma: Cut family visas to woo computer engineers?
Congress is closing in on immigration reforms that favor more immigrants with math and science backgrounds, but lawmakers are divided over whether to favor job skills over family ties.

By David Grant, Staff Writer / March 20, 2013

The thornier questions surround how to handle family-based visa applications for parents and siblings. As lawmakers seek to boost green cards for skills-based migrants, some are looking there as a potential offset.

Currently, skilled migrants make up 7 percent of America's total green card stream; in countries such as Canada and Australia, they make up more than half of all new nationals.


http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politic...uter-engineers

__________________________________________________ __________

Seven Democratic senators push to maintain family visas

Posted by David Nakamura on March 20, 2013


Seven Democratic senators are asking a bipartisan group of colleagues to reconsider plans to eliminate some categories of family visas as the group finalizes a comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws.

In a letter to the eight-member group, Democratic Sens. Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Tom Harkin (Iowa) and Al Franken (Minn.) praised the bipartisan effort but cautioned that the senators should maintain visas reserved specifically for foreign brothers, sisters and married children of U.S. citizens.

Currently, about two-thirds of visas are issued for family reasons, with 14 percent for employment reasons. Republicans have said increasing work visas will balance the country’s economic needs with family ties.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...wpmk=MK0000200

[Greyson]

I came across this article in my morning reading today. In my previous post in this thread the same topic of Merit Based Immigration vs. Family Based Immigration was discussed.

This article speaks to a previous round of immigration reform over 40 years ago in both the USA and Canada. Canada's Immigration Policy favored Merit/Points based system; the USA Immigration Policy favored "Family" (traditional, heterosexual) Immigration Policy.

IMO as the law and Immigration Policy stands today in the USA Queer families have a greater opportunity for immigration to the USA then they would via current policy.

Again, if you are under educated, poor and queer, the circumstances are not in your favor. Do any of you have an opinion on USA Immigration Policy? Are you willing to talk about it here in this thread? Better yet, are you willing to do anything about current USA Immigration Policy for Queer people and/are all people?
__________________________________________________ ______________
Canada comes to Silicon Valley to poach high-tech workers struggling with immigration problems

By Matt O'Brien

Posted: 05/17/2013 06:10:18 AM PDT



In the 1960s, Bloemraad said, both the U.S. and Canada dramatically reconfigured how they welcomed immigrants: America ended up with a system where two-thirds of immigrants now gain permanent residency through family connections, while Canada pioneered a points-based ranking that results where two-thirds of immigrants are chosen for their work skills.

The Senate plan would shift to a more Canadian approach in adopting a new "merit visa" to award permanent U.S. residency to the highest scorers in a points system favoring those who are young, highly educated, fluent in English and working in high-demand fields.


http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci...h-tech-workers

[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Greyson

.

IMO as the law and Immigration Policy stands today in the USA Queer families have a greater opportunity for immigration to the USA then they would via current policy.

Again, if you are under educated, poor and queer, the circumstances are not in your favor. Do any of you have an opinion on USA Immigration Policy? Are you willing to talk about it here in this thread? Better yet, are you willing to do anything about current USA Immigration Policy for Queer people and/are all people?

http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci...h-tech-workers

I agree with you, I prefer (in theory) the family immigration policy.

I think the merit/points system that Canada and Australia operate is great for a small group of migrants who are highly skilled and/or educated but aren't wealthy enough to "buy" investor visas, or in specific job categories that are in high demand (nurses, etc). But the merit system is classist and it leaves an enormous gap in accessibility. I believe the best policies are as open, accessible and variable as possible.

Why can't we have both family immigration and a merit system as well as a system that is flexible enough to respond to the gaps and growth industry and the job market.

Well...you know...'why can't we' besides the right wing reactionaries who whip up a fury of fear and hatred and ignorance by spreading blatant lies about immigrants stealing our jobs and getting free houses and fancy cars and groceries and ivy league educations.

I've been a queer immigration activist and fundraiser for over a decade. And I've been watching the action alerts coming from Out4Immigration about the current immigration reform bill being negotiated, calling and emailing senators with sway, as requested. I can only *HOPE* (and hope hard) that the provision for LGBT couples is not used as a bargaining chip and tossed out of the bill.

I know that there is a much bigger population of migrants that need support; I hope the work I do helps them too; but right now my LGBT migrants and asylum seekers are my number one priority.

[Sparkle]

Worrisome.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3313141.html