Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has pulled an amendment to the immigration bill that would offer same-sex couples and married straight couples equal access to green cards as married straight couples, said The Hill.
Under the amendment, an American citizen with a same-sex partner who was an immigrant would have been provided the opportunity to petition for a green card, permitting the partner to legally work in the United States. Leahy’s intentions with this amendment were to end discrimination in America's immigration system.
Leahy reluctantly withdrew the amendment the majority Republican response, where he was told the party would withhold their support of the bill if the amendment remained. With the intense gridlock facing Congress and the imperative implementation of the immigration bill, he took their word seriously and pulled the amendment. According to Newsmax,
others involved such as Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), fought for Leahy's amendment but ultimately agreed that if it remained it could significantly affect the bill’s ability to pass in the Senate.
Despite this set back, Leahy said, “With a heavy heart, and as a result of my conclusion that Republicans will kill this vital legislation if this anti-discrimination amendment is added, I will withhold calling for a vote on it. But I will continue to fight for equality,” according to The Hill.