So in keeping with the immigration theme, I would like to
take this in a different direction.
I recently read an article in CNN about an extremely successful woman
living in Southern California, who happened to meet someone online. Her name is Melanie Servetas. She fell in love with a woman from
Brazil. The two decided that they
wanted to live together.
Unfortunately for them, they are a gay couple and there are no
immigration laws that favor same sex couples. If they were a heterosexual couple they could get married
and then Servetas’ wife could apply for residency. However for Servetas and her partner there was no hope for
them. So Servetas decided to pick up
and move to Brazil to be with the woman she loves. Things haven’t worked out so well in Brazil. Servetas lives fearful that her visa
may expire and not be renewed, her business is mediocre at best, and she misses
her life in Southern California.
She stays in Brazil because she cannot bear to live without her
partner.
So
for anyone reading this would you agree that all people have the right to live
freely? Servetas is a successful
woman and contributing member of society but she is not allowed to live freely. She is dealing with two separate
issues, the immigration issue and the same sex marriage issue. Servetas is not enjoying the right to
live freely.
The
US Senate currently has two immigration cases before them. One is in regards to DOMA, Defense of
Marriage Act. If DOMA is done away
with, same sex marriages will also be recognized when it comes to immigration
cases. Also, Patrick Leahy, a
Democratic senator from Vermont, filed an amendment to an immigration reform
bill that would give gay couples equality in immigration issues.
There are many similar stories. Many couples are choosing to go north to Canada where there
is more possibility for acquiring legal immigration status. That however is a second option they
would prefer to live in the United States but living freely is just not
possible for them.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/16/us/gay-rights-immigration/index.html?iref=storysearch
I never thought about all the laws that would have to be changed by allowing the same sex marriages to be legal. If it does get legalized federally then a marriage is a marriage and it should be looked at as a marriage and not if the marriage is gay or not.
ReplyDeleteToday people have to be married for a number of years in order for their spouse to live in the United States. I feel it should be the same if it is a same sex marriage if it is made into law.
Nice blog
I applaud you for choosing quite a difficult topic--immigration. You presented a very good case, and gave your opinion that the couple should have to right to live in the United States as a legally married couple and gain citizenship. I would like to point out that marriage is determined by a state level; however, on a federal level, they must choose a unbiased decision. As majority of the states still do not allow same-sex marriage, I believe that the federal level has every right to go along with the majority. Immigration is a difficult topic, as people come over to America for different reasons. This couple is still gaining a chance though to be together, through the visas. America has not completely shunned them all rights. Immigration is a very controlled situation that our country will deal with for many generations to come. The government is not just purposely giving this couple a difficult time due to their same-sex relationship. Keep that in mind, as you write your posts, not do accidentally become too biased. Try giving two sides of the story, and explain a bit more about why how you feel immigration should be handled, in general. Overall, great post though.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you on your topic. Not everyone has the freedom to choose where they live as we know the immigration laws in the United States are broken. They separate families and leave kids without parents. Kids that were born in the United States are being separated from their parents just because their parents were born in different country. We worry about other countries mistreating their citizens, but what about our own people. We forget about all of those kids that cry at night because they cannot see their mom or dad just because they did not have a piece of paper that said United States citizen. Those kids are suffering too. Can you imagine having to grow up without one or both of your parents simply because they were born in a different place from you? It is not like people pick where to be born. Why is it not alright to try and find a better life for your family? Don’t we all want a better life for our family? At the end of the day that’s all that those families are looking for. They just want to be able to feed their kids. I know that the United States is a great country and we cannot just let everyone to come over, but at the end of the day diversity is what makes United States the beautiful country that we all want to live in.
ReplyDelete