It's Time to Boycott Arizona

[Julie]

Originally Posted by katsarecool

I agree that unless someone has a legal right to work in this country (green card) then they should not be allowed to do so. But on the other hand our laws need to be more inclusive of people who are not of White European ancestry. Because clearly they are not as they stand presently.

Have you ever attempted to apply for a Green Card? This country does not welcome immigrants. In order to get the Green Card, you either have to marry or you have to pay off some rich attorney.

This country does not welcome immigrants. Not even those immigrants who served in the military as one of our allies.

Quote from Immigration Equality:

"Under current U.S. immigration laws, lesbian and gay Americans do not have the right to sponsor their foreign national partners for residency, as their straight neighbors do. Instead, immigration laws force these couples — about 17,000 of whom are raising young children who are American citizens — to separate or leave the country, forced into exile because their families are not recognized under federal law. This painful reality is forcing many American citizens, and their families, to flee their own country, exacting a heavy cost on our economy, communities and on the countless people who constitute their extended families, too."

There are 19 countries which allow for this. Yet the USA does not. Ireland is coming up, so make that 20.

http://www.immigrationequality.org

Now... Let's imagine a poor Mexican person living in a remote part of his/her country and all they want to do is provide a safe place for their family. I lived in mexico as a child and saw the poverty and disease because of poor living conditions and poor health care.

I will always believe in opening our borders. It is what this country was based on. Statue of Liberty still stand today...

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Have we forgotten?

[katsarecool]

Originally Posted by InfiniteFemme

Have you ever attempted to apply for a Green Card? This country does not welcome immigrants. In order to get the Green Card, you either have to marry or you have to pay off some rich attorney.

This country does not welcome immigrants. Not even those immigrants who served in the military as one of our allies.

Quote from Immigration Equality:

"Under current U.S. immigration laws, lesbian and gay Americans do not have the right to sponsor their foreign national partners for residency, as their straight neighbors do. Instead, immigration laws force these couples — about 17,000 of whom are raising young children who are American citizens — to separate or leave the country, forced into exile because their families are not recognized under federal law. This painful reality is forcing many American citizens, and their families, to flee their own country, exacting a heavy cost on our economy, communities and on the countless people who constitute their extended families, too."

There are 19 countries which allow for this. Yet the USA does not. Ireland is coming up, so make that 20.

http://www.immigrationequality.org

Now... Let's imagine a poor Mexican person living in a remote part of his/her country and all they want to do is provide a safe place for their family. I lived in mexico as a child and saw the poverty and disease because of poor living conditions and poor health care.

I will always believe in opening our borders. It is what this country was based on. Statue of Liberty still stand today...

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Have we forgotten?

I have been through the process with my ex husband and know how tough it can be. I did say in my post that I thought the present laws needed to be more fair to coming here from countries other than White European. And it does need to be more fair!! I am not sure how this can be done but something needs to be done.

As much as I see flaws in this country I also believe most people here aptly fill my description of strong, empathetic and compassionate. I stand by those words.

[Soon]

Originally Posted by katsarecool

I have been through the process with my ex husband and know how tough it can be. I did say in my post that I thought the present laws needed to be more fair to coming here from countries other than White European. And it does need to be more fair!! I am not sure how this can be done but something needs to be done.

As much as I see flaws in this country I also believe most people here aptly fill my description of strong, empathetic and compassionate. I stand by those words.

Well, now you are referring to citizens of your country as empathetic and compassionate and not the country itself which is a much different sentiment than in your previous post, #866.

As for going through the process with your ex-husband of USA immigration, at least you were allowed the process.

I am denied the ability to immigrate, work and live with my husband--in the USA--based on the unjust laws of your country.

[katsarecool]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

Well, now you are referring to citizens of your country as empathetic and compassionate and not the country itself which is a much different sentiment than in your previous post, #866.

As for going through the process with your ex-husband of USA immigration, at least you were allowed the process.

I am denied the ability to immigrate, work and live with my husband based on the unjust laws of your country.

I am sorry that you are not able to come here to live your life with your partner. And I do hope that will be possible in the future. I do believe once Same Sex marriage is recognized and legalized in this country immigration will be possible for millions. Rightly so.

As far as your first paragraph I am not seeing what you are seeing.

My ex husband was from Colombia, and believe me getting a green card for someone from that country was not an easy matter. Or pleasant either.

[Soon]

Originally Posted by katsarecool

I am sorry that you are not able to come here to live your life with your partner. And I do hope that will be possible in the future. I do believe once Same Sex marriage is recognized and legalized in this country immigration will be possible for millions. Rightly so.

As far as your first paragraph I am not seeing what you are seeing.

My ex husband was from Colombia, and believe me getting a green card for someone from that country was not an easy matter. Or pleasant either.

He's my husband, not partner.

Whether or not it was easy, you had the right to sponsor your ex for immigration. My husband does not have that same right.



As for the "empathetic and compassionate" -- your earlier post posited that the USA -- as a country -- is characterized by these qualities--your next post said the people have these characteristices--that is quite a difference and makes me wonder what qualities of the USA actually DO demonstrate these traits when the opposite appears to be true in so many of its policies!

I hope this clarified my earlier response.

[katsarecool]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

He's my husband, not partner.

What I am saying is that everyone has the right to sponsor their opposite sex spouse for immigration. Whether or not that is granted or not, is a different story.

Under DOMA, federal immigration rights do not extend to married queer folks and that DOES include transfolks in many circumstances.

You had the legal right to sponsor your husband for immigration. THOUSANDS do not have the same right.

I hope this clarified my earlier response.

You and I are on the same page regarding DOMA and immigration rights for same-sex marriages.

[Dreamer]

Originally Posted by katsarecool

You and I are on the same page regarding DOMA and immigration rights for same-sex marriages.

It does not even have to be about marriage. Australia does not recognise same sex marriages either, HOWEVER we do recognise defacto relationships between same sex couples which allows us the same right to sponsor our partners for Immigration purposes.
I am also curious about this part of your post,

"I did say in my post that I thought the present laws needed to be more fair to coming here from countries other than White European."

I am not sure how it is harder for one than the other.

[Soon]

Originally Posted by katsarecool

You and I are on the same page regarding DOMA and immigration rights for same-sex marriages.

I think I misread your question regarding my earlier post, so I edited my response quite a bit to, hopefully, clarify myself; I am confused that someone from our community--especially--would consider the USA "empathetic" and "compassionate" when so many of its laws/policies are in direct opposition to these qualities and have, actually, directly and negatively impacted our lives.

Just to let you know, it isn't just same sex marriages that have immigration issues. My husband is trans, and access to immigration rights are not a given based on transition.

//sorry for getting a bit off topic, AZ immig thread!//