Immigration Bill Advances, but Without Rights for Same-Sex Couples

[Content Note: Homophobia.]

This is infuriating:

A far-reaching bill to remake the nation's immigration system is headed to the full Senate... The legislation is one of President Barack Obama's top domestic priorities - yet it also gives the Republican Party a chance to recast itself as more appealing to minorities.

...The legislation would create new routes for people to come legally to the U.S. to work at all skill levels, tighten border security and workplace enforcement, and offer a chance at citizenship to the 11 million people here illegally.

...It was [Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.]'s 11th-hour decision to hold back on an amendment to extend immigration rights to same-sex married couples that cleared the way for the bill's approval.

...Leahy had been under pressure from gay groups to offer the amendment, which would allow gay married Americans to sponsor their foreign-born spouses for green cards like straight married Americans can. But Republican supporters of the bill warned that including such a measure would cost their support. As the committee neared the end of its work, officials said Leahy had been informed that both the White House and Senate Democrats hoped he would not risk the destruction of months of painstaking work by putting the issue to a vote.

"I don't want to be the senator who asks people to choose between the love of their life and the love of their country," Leahy said, adding that he wanted to hear from others on the committee.

In response, he heard a chorus of pleas from the bill's supporters not to force a vote that they warned would lead to the collapse of Republican support and the bill's demise.

"I don't want to blow this bill apart," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the first to speak up.

"I believe in my heart of hearts that what you're doing is the right and just thing," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. "But I believe this is the wrong moment, that this is the wrong bill."

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Al Franken, D-Minn., added their voices, and Leahy announced that, "with a heavy heart," he would withdraw his amendment.

Gay rights groups voiced outrage, and the issue is certain to re-emerge when the full Senate debates the legislation. But it is doubtful that sponsors can command the 60 votes that will be needed to make it part of the legislation.

Basically, the Democrats have decided have passing an immigration bill, even if it's inherently discriminatory, is more important to their electoral fortunes than holding firm and refusing to pass non-inclusive immigration reform. They are kicking the can down the road, hoping it will get done some other way:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein cited [Republican Senator Lindsay Graham calling the provision for same-sex couples "a bridge too far" to retain his support], then, saying of Leahy's amendment, "I think this sounds like the fairest approach, but here's the problem … we know this is going to blow the agreement apart. I don't want to blow this bill apart."

She cited the fact that the Supreme Court could strike down the Defense of Marriage Act provision that prevents same-sex couples from having equal immigration rights in coming months. She also noted the a bill she is sponsoring to repeal DOMA is holding in the Senate, concluding, "I would just implore to hold up on this amendment at this time."

...Sen. Al Franken, likewise, joined in the decision not to support the amendment, saying, "This is the definition of a Hobson's choice. … It's wrong to discriminate against people, but I do not want the LGBT people who would be hurt by this bill not passing, this whole bill not passing, to be hurt by this falling apart."

And why is it an either-or choice? Because of Republicans and their flat-out refusal to pass the bill out of committee with Leahy's amendment attached. So they hold immigration reform hostage in service to their bigotry, and the Democrats cave, because the White House has told them to get this shit done, since immigration reform is meant to be a centerpiece of President Obama's second-term agenda.

Meanwhile, note that Republicans stand to gain everything from this bill passing: They get to crow about their generous bipartisanship; brag about their Big Tent being friendly to immigrants/Latin@s; and reassure their garbage bigot base that they stopped a crucial expansion of gay rights. Yay for them.

There is still time to make this right. Every Democrat in the Senate should get in front of every TV camera zie can find and yell about how the Republican Party is holding inclusive immigration reform hostage because they are homophobic shitheads. They need to be shamed. Do the Democrats have the will and wherewithal to do that?

Contact your Senators, irrespective of their party affiliations, and tell them you want comprehensive immigration reform that includes equal rights for bi-national couples.