RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 424 (LEAHY) AND HOUSE RESOLUTION 1024 (NADLER), THE UNITING AMERICAN FAMILIES ACT OF 2009

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, existing federal law does not currently recognize permanent, same-sex partners as family members for immigration purposes, including same-sex partners that are married or recognized as married in other states or countries; and

WHEREAS, there are approximately 36,000 bi-national, same-sex couples living in the United States, forty-seven percent of whom are raising children; and

WHEREAS, same-sex couples are now currently forced to choose whether to separate or leave the United States in order to remain together as committed couples; and

WHEREAS, 19 other countries already recognize same-sex partnerships for immigration purposes, including Canada, France and the United Kingdom; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 424 sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy and House Resolution 1024 sponsored by Representative Jerrold Nadler would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to add same-sex “permanent partners” to the list of family members that a United States citizen or legal resident could sponsor for immigration; and

WHEREAS, the Uniting Families Act of 2009 would define “permanent partners” as an individual 18 years of age or older who is in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 years of age or older in which both parties intend a lifelong commitment, are financially interdependent, are not married to or in a permanent partnership with someone else, are not a first, second, or third degree blood relations of the other person, and are unable to have their relationship recognized as a marriage under current immigration law; and

WHEREAS, the Uniting Families Act of 2009 would grant same-sex couples the same immigration benefits and responsibilities afforded opposite-sex married couples, including providing the same proof of their relationship that an opposite-sex married couple must provide to sponsor their partner, under the same existing legal framework.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors by the adoption of this Resolution hereby supports Senate Bill 424 and House Resolution 1024, the Uniting American Families Act of 2009, regarding extending immigration sponsorship under federal immigration law to same-sex partners.

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