Misplaced Pages

#132867

63-527: UAFA may stand for: Uniting American Families Act , a U.S. bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act Union of Arab Football Associations , a football association that organises several tournaments between Arab nations Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title UAFA . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change

126-678: A Juris Doctor in 1973. Sessions entered the private practice of law in Russellville and later in Mobile . He also served in the Army Reserve in the 1970s with the rank of captain. Sessions served as an assistant United States attorney in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama beginning in 1975. In 1981, President Reagan nominated him to be the U.S. attorney for

189-584: A key role in the implementation of the Trump administration family separation policy. Trump issued an executive order revoking the cities' funding , but that order was overturned by a federal court. Sessions also supported Department of Justice prosecutions of medical marijuana providers. On November 7, 2018, Sessions tendered his resignation at Trump's request following months of public and private conflict with President Trump over his recusal from investigations relating to Russian election interference. Sessions ran in

252-507: A large role in appointments and policy preparation relative to space, NASA and related facilities in Alabama, while Peter Thiel advocated for private spaceflight . President-elect Trump announced on November 18, 2016, that he would nominate Sessions to be Attorney General of the United States. Trump would later state in an August 22, 2018, interview with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt that

315-535: A letter urging the Senate to reject the nomination. A group of black pastors rallied in support of Sessions in advance of his confirmation hearing; his nomination was supported by Gerald A. Reynolds , an African American former chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights . Six NAACP activists, including NAACP President Cornell William Brooks , were arrested at a January 2017 sit-in protesting

378-460: A memo issued by one of his predecessors, Eric Holder , that had sought to curb mass incarceration by avoiding mandatory sentencing for drug crimes; he ordered federal prosecutors to begin seeking the maximum criminal charges possible. A staunch opponent of illegal immigration , Sessions adopted a hard line on sanctuary cities and told reporters that cities failing to comply with federal immigration policy would lose federal funding. He also played

441-407: A racist, and that Sessions "has a tendency sometimes to just say something, and I believe these comments were along that vein." Hebert also said that Sessions had called a white civil rights attorney "maybe" a "disgrace to his race". Sessions said he did not recall making that remark and he did not believe it. Thomas Figures , a black assistant U.S. attorney, testified that Sessions said he thought

504-566: A reliable measure for indicating who is in a long-term committed partnership. While previously supporting family reunification legislation, such as H.R. 6638, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops does not support the inclusion of the Uniting American Families Act in a larger bill or standing on its own. National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference's (NHCLC) leader Reverend Samuel Rodriguez predicts that

567-468: Is an American politician and attorney who served as the 84th United States attorney general from 2017 to 2018. A member of the Republican Party , he previously served as United States senator from Alabama from 1997 to 2017 before resigning that position to serve as attorney general in the administration of President Donald Trump . Trump fired Sessions in 2018 due to his inaction and recusal from

630-518: Is currently working with colleagues of both parties to work on comprehensive immigration reform. This comprehensive immigration reform, which in Senator Schumer's mind is more effective than "piecemeal legislation", will address the issue in the Uniting American Families Act. An important political issue with UAFA revolves around the principle of family reunification; many conservatives do not want to be seen as anti-family reunification, especially with

693-569: Is that Sessions didn't completely refuse to participate in or have his name on pleadings in cases that the civil rights division brought during his tenure   ... These four cases are awfully weak evidence of Sessions's supposed commitment to civil rights." Coretta Scott King , the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose the nomination. In her letter, she wrote that "Mr. Sessions has used

SECTION 10

#1732859433133

756-481: Is what I considered it to be". Another DOJ lawyer, Albert Glenn, said, "It never occurred to me that there was any seriousness to it." Figures testified that on one occasion, when the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division sent the office instructions to investigate a case that Sessions had tried to close, Figures and Sessions "had a very spirited discussion regarding how the Hodge case should then be handled; in

819-457: The 2016 presidential campaign and that he was unaware of any contact between Trump campaign members and Russian officials. However, in March 2017, news reports revealed that Sessions had twice met with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in 2016. Sessions later recused himself from any investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections . As attorney general, Sessions rescinded

882-505: The 2020 Senate election in Alabama to reclaim his old seat, but lost in the Republican primary to Tommy Tuberville , who was supported by President Trump. Sessions was born in Selma, Alabama , on December 24, 1946, the son of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions Jr. and the former Abbie Powe. Sessions, his father, and his grandfather were named after Jefferson Davis , a U.S. senator and president of

945-617: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 , the Affordable Care Act (2009) and criminal justice reform (2015). Sessions was an early supporter of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign ; he was nominated by Trump for the post of U.S. Attorney General. He was confirmed and sworn in as attorney general in February 2017. In his confirmation hearings, Sessions stated under oath that he did not have contact with Russian officials during

1008-753: The Confederate States of America , and P. G. T. Beauregard , a veteran of the Mexican–American War and a Confederate general who oversaw the Battle of Fort Sumter that commenced the American Civil War . His father owned a general store in Hybart, Alabama , and later owned a farm equipment dealership. Both Sessions's parents were primarily of English descent, with some Scots-Irish ancestry. In 1964, Sessions became an Eagle Scout , and later, he earned

1071-647: The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his many years of service. After attending Wilcox County High School in nearby Camden , Sessions studied at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1969. He was active in the Young Republicans , the marching band and was student body president. Sessions attended the University of Alabama School of Law and graduated with

1134-549: The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union , have expressed support for the bill. The Immigration Equality website has a list of organizations, labor unions, civil rights groups, religious institutions, and businesses that support the bill including Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, League of United Latin American Citizens, American Bar Association, American Airlines and

1197-513: The Ku Klux Klan was "OK until I found out they smoked pot ". Sessions later said that the comment was not serious, but did apologize for it, saying that he considered the Klan to be "a force for hatred and bigotry". Barry Kowalski, a prosecutor in the civil rights division, also heard the remark and testified that prosecutors working such a gruesome case sometimes "resort to operating room humor and that

1260-649: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as "un-American" and " Communist -inspired" (Sessions said he was referring to their support of the Sandinistas ) and that they did more harm than good by trying to force civil rights "down the throats of people". Hebert, a civil rights lawyer, said that he did not consider Sessions

1323-648: The United States Senate by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and in the United States House of Representatives by New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). The Senate version has 29 cosponsors. The Senate legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Most of the cosponsors are Democrats and there is little Republican support for the legislation. The 2013 bill

SECTION 20

#1732859433133

1386-497: The American Jewish Committee. Opponents believe that UAFA could open up the doors for Illegal immigration even though it would penalize those who attempt to evade immigration law. They believe that it will be hard for immigration officers to actually determine whether the partnership is long-term and permanent. The Center for Immigration Studies does not support the bill because, in their opinion, it does not provide

1449-763: The Civil Rights Division, testified that they considered Sessions to have been more welcoming to the work of the Civil Rights Division than many other Southern U.S. attorneys at the time. Sessions has always defended his civil rights record, saying that "when I was [a U.S. attorney], I signed 10 pleadings attacking segregation or the remnants of segregation, where we as part of the Department of Justice, we sought desegregation remedies." Critics later argued that Sessions had exaggerated his involvement in civil rights cases. Michigan Law professor Samuel Bagenstos , reviewing Sessions's claims, argued that "[a]ll this shows

1512-491: The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP Act). Initially, it did not include UAFA, which upset many gay rights activists. However, on July 15, 2010, Congressman Gutiérrez announced, "provisions of UAFA must be part of any comprehensive immigration reform bill." Senator Charles Schumer wrote a letter to his LGBT constituency in March 2010 indicating that he

1575-772: The Federal Judiciary, which rates nominees to the federal bench, rated Sessions "qualified", with a minority voting that Sessions was "not qualified". His nomination was opposed by the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights , and People for the American Way . At Sessions's confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, four Department of Justice lawyers who had worked with Sessions testified that he made racially offensive remarks. One of those lawyers, J. Gerald Hebert, testified that Sessions had referred to

1638-778: The House of Representatives the bill was referred to the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law . This subcommittee has sixteen members including the Chairman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and ranking member Representative Steve King (R-IA). The subcommittee consists of representatives from the states of California, Texas, Illinois, Utah, Iowa, Mississippi, New York and Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi (D) from Puerto Rico. The subcommittee has six Republicans and ten Democrats on board. In

1701-468: The Marion Three, were acquitted of all charges by a jury after three hours of deliberation. Historian Wayne Flynt told The Washington Post he regarded concerns about tactics employed in the 1984 election and by Turner in particular as legitimate, but also noted Sessions had no history of advocating for black voter rights before 1984. Interviewed in 2009, Sessions said he remained convinced that he did

1764-528: The Republican primary for U.S. Senate, after a runoff, and then defeated Democrat Roger Bedford 53%–46% in the November general election . He succeeded Howell Heflin (a Democrat), who had retired after 18 years in the Senate, making his victory a Republican pickup in the Senate. In the February 1999 impeachment trial , Sessions voted to convict President Bill Clinton on both articles of impeachment , for perjury and obstruction of justice . However Clinton

1827-558: The Russian collusion probes. From 1981 to 1993, Sessions served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama . In 1986, President Ronald Reagan nominated Sessions to a judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. After allegations of racism were made against him in testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, which Sessions denied, the committee voted against advancing his nomination to

1890-415: The Senate floor; the nomination was later withdrawn. Sessions was elected attorney general of Alabama in 1994. In 1996 , he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and was re-elected in 2002 , 2008 and 2014 . During his Senate tenure, Sessions was considered one of the most conservative senators. His Senate voting record includes votes against comprehensive immigration reform (2006), the 2008 bank bailout ,

1953-420: The Senate the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary which consists of nineteen members which includes Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) who re-introduced the bill and Ranking Member Senator Jefferson Sessions (R-AL). The committee consists of seven Republican Senators and twelve Democratic Senators. The Representatives on the committee come from seventeen different states; this differs vastly from

UAFA - Misplaced Pages Continue

2016-475: The Senate ;– would create a temporary vacancy, which otherwise would have jeopardized DeVos's narrow confirmation. On February 7, 2017, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell stopped Senator Elizabeth Warren from reading statements opposing Sessions's nomination as federal judge that had been made by Ted Kennedy and Coretta Scott King . Warren was then officially rebuked per Senate Rule XIX on

2079-448: The Southern District of Alabama. The Senate confirmed him and he held that position for twelve years. In 1993, Sessions resigned his post after Democrat Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States. Sessions's office filed civil rights charges in the 1981 killing of Michael Donald , a young African American man who was murdered in Mobile, Alabama , by a pair of Ku Klux Klan members. Sessions's office did not prosecute

2142-677: The United Kingdom, among others. The American Civil Liberties Union wrote in a letter of support for UAFA to senators that the bill does not provide special benefits for same-sex couples, but provides equal sponsorship. The ACLU also mentions that the bill follows traditional family reunification principles in immigration law that are already commonplace in various countries. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) supports UAFA and asks that comprehensive immigration reform include lesbian and gay immigrants. Several corporations and organizations, such as Intel Corporation and

2205-459: The assistant U.S. attorney who testified at Sessions's judicial confirmation hearing) to win a third term . Sessions received 63 percent of the vote to Figures's 37 percent. Sessions successfully sought a fourth term in 2014. In 2014, Sessions was uncontested in the Republican primary and was only opposed in the general election by write-in Democratic candidate Victor Sanchez Williams. Sessions

2268-526: The awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters." On June 5, 1986, the committee voted 10–8 against recommending the nomination to the Senate floor, with Republican senators Charles Mathias of Maryland and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania voting with the Democrats. It then split 9–9 on a vote to send Sessions's nomination to the Senate floor with no recommendation, this time with Specter in support. A majority

2331-531: The case of financial interdependence if certain countries require finances to be kept separate in these cases, thus already excluding some couples and asking more than what different-sex couples must prove. Jefferson Sessions Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Miscellaneous Other Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III (born December 24, 1946)

2394-503: The case, as homicide is prosecuted by the state government, but both men were arrested and convicted. In 1985, Sessions prosecuted three African American community organizers in the Black Belt of Alabama , including Martin Luther King Jr. 's former aide Albert Turner , for voter fraud , alleging tampering with 14 absentee ballots. The prosecution stirred charges of selective prosecution of black voter registration. The defendants, known as

2457-594: The corporations employing donors who gave the most to his campaign were the Southern Company utility firm, the Balch & Bingham law firm, the Drummond Company coal mining firm, Collazo Enterprises, and Vulcan Materials . Sessions was an early supporter of the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump , and was a major policy adviser to the Trump campaign, especially in regard to immigration and national security. He

2520-705: The course of that argument, Mr. Sessions threw the file on a table, and remarked, 'I wish I could decline on all of them ' ", by which Figures said Sessions meant civil rights cases generally. Kowalski, however, testified that he believed "[Sessions] was eager to see that justice was done in the area of criminal civil rights prosecutions." Figures also said that Sessions had called him "boy", which Sessions denied. Figures testified that two assistant prosecutors had also heard Sessions, including current federal judge Ginny Granade . Granade denied this. He also testified that "Mr. Sessions admonished me to 'be careful what you say to white folks.'" Sessions denied this. In 1992, Figures

2583-538: The full text of UAFA, further expanded to provide rights to the children or stepchildren of the foreign-born partner, has been included as Title II of the Reuniting Families Act ( H.R. 717 ), an immigration reform bill, last introduced in the United States House of Representatives on February 14, 2013, by California Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA). UAFA was introduced on February 13, 2013, in

UAFA - Misplaced Pages Continue

2646-459: The funding system for Alabama's public schools. The litigation resulted in the creation of a new funding system after "Judge Eugene W. Reese found the state's education funding unconstitutional and ordered lawmakers to come up with a system to remedy inequities between rich and poor schools." As attorney general in 1995, Sessions defended a newly passed state law denying access to meeting space and student group funding for Gay-Straight Alliances at

2709-420: The growing Latino voter base. Of note, is the fact that forty percent of LGBT binational couples in the United States include a Latino family member. In response to Obergefell v. Hodges Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano issued a statement on July 1, 2013 clarifying that LGBT spouses and fiancés would henceforth be treated the same as heterosexual couples for immigration purposes. This eliminated

2772-536: The highest ethical and intellectual standards". When Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania left the GOP to join the Democratic Party on April 28, 2009, Sessions was selected to be the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee. At that time, Specter said that his vote against Sessions's 1986 federal judicial nomination had been a mistake, adding that he had later found Sen. Sessions to be an "egalitarian". Sessions

2835-512: The inability to be recognized as married partners under this act, the act then allows individuals who have had the opportunity in other states and countries to be married, but have chosen not to, the same immigration rights as those who have pursued marriage. Although the bill is designed to align the rights of same-sex couples with those of different-sex couples, binational same-sex couples are unlikely to resemble different-sex couples. This could be due to international immigration law, especially in

2898-408: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=UAFA&oldid=1216280626 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Uniting American Families Act Beginning in the 111th Congress,

2961-620: The need for a stand alone bill. The support for the Uniting American Families Act has increased in the House of Representatives, but much less so in the Senate. Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Immigration Equality, both supporters of LGBT rights legislation, support the bill. The HRC points out that the process for sponsoring a partner will have the same requirements that opposite-sex couples face. HRC also reports that 22 countries recognize same-sex couples under immigration law, including France, Germany, Israel, and

3024-545: The nomination. On January 10, 2017, the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on his nomination began and were interrupted by protesters. The committee approved his nomination February   1 on an 11–9 party-line vote. The nomination then went to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. The vote on Sessions was delayed until after the vote on Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos , because his confirmation – and subsequent resignation from

3087-487: The only reason he nominated Sessions was because Sessions was an original supporter during his presidential campaign. The nomination engendered support and opposition from various groups and individuals. He was introduced by Senator Susan Collins from Maine who said, "He's a decent individual with a strong commitment to the rule of law. He's a leader of integrity. I think the attacks against him are not well founded and are unfair." More than 1,400 law school professors wrote

3150-564: The right thing, but admitted he "failed to make the case". In 1986, Reagan nominated Sessions to be a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama . Sessions's judicial nomination was recommended and actively backed by Republican Alabama senator Jeremiah Denton . A substantial majority of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on

3213-473: The second nominee to the federal judiciary in 48 years whose nomination was killed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was quoted then as saying that the Senate on occasion had been insensitive to the rights and reputation of nominees. A law clerk from the U.S. District Court in Mobile who had worked with Sessions later acknowledged the confirmation controversy, but stated that he observed Sessions as "a lawyer of

SECTION 50

#1732859433133

3276-647: The state's public universities, stating that "an organization that professes to be comprised of homosexuals and/or lesbians may not receive state funding or use state-supported facilities to foster or promote those illegal, sexually deviate activities defined in the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws." The U.S. District court ruled against the state law as a violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in Gay Lesbian Bisexual Alliance v. Sessions , 917 F. Supp. 1548 (1996). In 1996, Sessions won

3339-533: The subcommittee to which the House of Representatives bill has been referred to. Senator Patrick Leahy held a hearing on the bill on June 3, 2009. The hearing was the first-ever hearing on the Uniting American Families Act. In the opinion of the national organization, Immigration Equality , the hearing was a fundamental and important first step for bringing UAFA into comprehensive immigration reform. On December 15, 2009, Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) introduced his comprehensive immigration reform bill, H.R. 4321,

3402-686: The wide and strong support that the NHCLC has garnered for comprehensive immigration reform will be lost if same-sex couples are to benefit from the reform. Roy Beck , the founder of NumbersUSA , an which works for lower immigration levels, opposed the Act. The bill's language applies only to applicable LGBT individuals and excludes different-sex couples from becoming permanent partners under its provisions. Same-sex couples with valid marriage certificates are prohibited from being considered "married" under this act and can only apply for visas as permanent partners. Due to

3465-654: Was acquitted on both charges by the Senate. Following the Columbine High School massacre in April 1999, Sessions took part in the Senate's Subcommittee that investigated the massacre. Sessions blamed violent video games , movies and music, especially that of Marilyn Manson , and parts of culture for the actions of the two shooters . In 2002, Sessions won reelection by defeating Democratic state auditor Susan Parker . In 2008, Sessions defeated Democratic state senator Vivian Davis Figures (sister-in-law of Thomas Figures,

3528-457: Was charged with attempting to bribe a witness by offering $ 50,000 to a convicted drug dealer who was to testify against his client. Figures claimed the charge was retaliation for his role in blocking the Sessions nomination. Sessions denied this, saying that he recused himself from the case. Figures was ultimately acquitted. Hebert, Kowalski and Daniel Bell, deputy chief of the criminal section in

3591-490: Was cosponsored by Republican Congressmen Charlie Dent and Richard L. Hanna . There are an estimated 36,000 same-sex binational couples in 2000, according to the Census, who could benefit from this act. UAFA includes the following definitions: The term "permanent partner" means an individual 18 years of age or older who-- The term "permanent partnership" means the relationship that exists between two permanent partners. In

3654-457: Was elected attorney general of Alabama in November 1994, unseating incumbent Democrat Jimmy Evans with 57% of the vote. The harsh criticism he had received from Senator Ted Kennedy , who called him a "throw-back to a shameful era" and a "disgrace", was considered to have won him the support of Alabama conservatives. As attorney general, Sessions defended the state in a litigation that challenged

3717-504: Was on the short list to become Trump's running mate and was widely seen as a potential Cabinet secretary in a Trump administration. Sessions donned a " Make America Great Again " cap at a Trump rally in August 2015, and Stephen Miller , Sessions's long-time communications director, joined the Trump campaign. On February 28, 2016, Sessions officially endorsed Trump for president. Session's endorsement further legitimized Trump's campaign, as he

3780-415: Was only the second freshman Republican senator from Alabama since Reconstruction and gave Alabama two Republican senators, a first since Reconstruction. In 2002, he became the first Republican reelected to the Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction (given that his colleague Richard Shelby , who won reelection as a Republican in 1998, had previously run as a Democrat, switching parties in 1994). Sessions

3843-424: Was required for the nomination to proceed. The pivotal votes against Sessions came from his home state's Democratic senator Howell Heflin of Alabama. Although Heflin had previously backed Sessions, he began to oppose Sessions after hearing testimony, concluding that there were "reasonable doubts" over Sessions's ability to be "fair and impartial". The nomination was withdrawn on July 31, 1986. Sessions became only

SECTION 60

#1732859433133

3906-482: Was the first and only sitting U.S. Senator to endorse him during the primary. Sessions's and Rudy Giuliani 's appearance was a staple at Trump campaign rallies. Uncorroborated Russian communications intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies discuss Ambassador Sergey Kislyak meeting privately with Sessions at the Mayflower Hotel during a Trump campaign event in April 2016. During the transition , Sessions played

3969-596: Was the ranking Republican member on the Senate Budget Committee, a former ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee . He also served on the Environment and Public Works Committee . According to OpenSecrets , between 1995 and 2016, Sessions's largest donors came from the legal, health, real estate, and insurance industries. From 1995 to 2016,

#132867