Rep. Mark Takano Expresses Support for Senate Immigration Proposal

After its release, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) expressed support for the plan but detailed his concern about the legislation’s lack of provisions for bi-national LGBT spouses.

 

Takano said, “The proposal released today by the ‘Gang of Eight’ is an important first step in reforming our immigration system. I’m especially pleased that the proposal includes provides a pathway to citizenship, a fast track for DREAMers, increases the number of high-skilled worker visas, and allows immigrants who have been deported on noncriminal grounds to apply for readmittance if they have a spouse or children in the U.S.

 

“While I support the basic outline of the proposal, I do have concerns that the legislation fails to carve out provisions for binational LGBT families.

 

“More than a dozen countries allow same-sex partner sponsoring, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom and more. The United States should be no different.

 

“As the debate for this important issue continues to move forward, I remain committed to working with other Members of Congress so that LGBT families are given the same opportunities as everybody else.”

 

The proposal includes a pathway to citizenship that requires most immigrants to pay $2,000 in fines, pass a background check, have had regular employment in the U.S. and wait 10 years before applying for a green card, creates new Visa’s for high-tech and low skilled workers, increases border security, and requires employers to use an e-verify system.

 

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