My name is Leandro Coutinho. I met my husband during Gay Pride 1998. We became domestic partners in August 2000, and married in June 2008, (at that time as soon as California law allowed). If we were a heterosexual couple, my husband would have sponsored me for my green card in the year 2000, and I would be an American Citizen by now. Unfortunately, U.S. immigration law doesn’t recognize same-sex couples for immigration purposes, and the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) is the only bill that addresses this discriminatory issue. The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA; HR 1024; S 424) is sponsored in the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler and the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy.

I was a student when I arrived in the United States, and in December 2005, I graduated as a Registered Nurse. The hospital I was working for sponsored me for my green card, but unfortunately, my lawyer submitted my application with an expired form. For this reason, the U.S. Immigration denied my green card petition. I have spent over 30 thousand dollars trying to fix my lawyer’s mistake, but without success. Consequently, my husband and I will have to exile to my country where I can sponsor him for his residency. While some couples are fortunate to be able to exile to another country, others don’t have this option, because their countries don’t recognize same-sex relationships. These couples suffer persecution, and having no other option, other than breaking U.S. law with an arranged marriage; they choose to stay here illegally.

My husband and I have always followed the law. We have paid more taxes, and contributed to American society like any other heterosexual couple. It is unfortunate that the USA is loosing their highly qualified citizens due to unnecessary and discriminatory immigration policies. During the past decade, I could not to attend the funerals of my four aunts and my stepbrother, for fear of not being allowed to come back to the United States. I am leaving the country, and I don’t know if I will be able to come back soon, unless the UAFA is passed in both the Congress and the Senate.

Thank you for your consideration on this important matter.

Sincerely,

Leandro Coutinho