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 The US Senate has called for an end to the law that bars HIV+ people from visiting the United States.
The US currently bars anyone who is HIV positive from entering the country without special permission. Although the law currently bars any foreigner with a “communicable disease of public health significance” from entering the country, only HIV is specifically mentioned. Every other disease is open to the interpretation of officials.
Senators John Kerry and Gordon Smith added the removal of the ban to the legislation concerning the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This means funding for PEPFAR can only go ahead if the ban is lifted.
PEPFAR will ensure $US48 billion will go to Africa to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria over the next five years.
The bill will now go through a committee stage before going to be signed by President George W Bush, who is reportedly anxious to see PEPFAR go ahead.
Joe Solomonese of the Human Rights Campaign told the press, "We call on the leaders of the House and Senate to retain the Kerry-Smith provision in conference and ensure it is included in the final legislation sent to the President’s desk."
Activists have long objected to the immigration ban as discriminatory, ineffective and nonsensical.
photo by dbking
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