US Immigration and the Ryan White Care Act
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Travelers and immigrants infected by Human Immunodefiency Virus or HIV are prohibited to enter or pass through the US since 1987. Certain cases are permitted although special waivers and other requirements need to be satisfactorily complied with. This has been the arrangement implemented ever since and HIV-infected individuals cannot do anything about this program but to respect and follow it.
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A new development in US immigration is taking shape under the Obama Administration. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 has just been signed by the President and coinciding this momentous occasion is the announcement of the elimination of the HIV travel ban effective early January 2010.
The US has supported the Ryan White Care Act since 1990 which promotes medical funding and technical assistance to health care providers and organizations working for HIV/AIDS infected individuals. The act has significantly improved lives of these HIV infected folks living on low-wage households and those who were not privileged to secure health insurance to cover for their medical needs. While promoting such efforts of ending the AIDS pandemic, the US, ironically, bans HIV positive travelers and immigrants coming into the country.
President Barack Obama Administration’s take on the HIV travel ban removal clearly projects the US’ position on the HIV/AIDS issue. As strong advocates of the Ryan White Care Act, it’s about time that this is applied on the US immigration policies. The brave step to eliminate this travel ban opens new doors for families to be reunited and fight off this disease together. More individuals will surely benefit from this bold change under the present administration.
Although HIV travel ban is just one of the many US immigration reform concerns the Obama Administration needs to work on with, it’s reassuring enough to know that they take one issue at a time and positive results come from it. As they say, immigration reform is not something that can be resolved in one sitting. It takes time and sincere fusion of the government and the people to truly make it happen.
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