Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - December 4, 2006
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US' largest HIV/AIDS healthcare and prevention and education provider, which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, today hailed President Bush for his World AIDS executive order rescinding a provision of U.S. law that bans HIV-positive foreigners from entering the country without a special waiver. According to today's Kaiser Family Foundation's Daily HIV/AIDS Report, "Congress in 1993 enacted legislation that prevented HIV-positive foreigners from obtaining visas or citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of State, if any foreigners traveling to the U.S., including people from countries not requiring visas, reveal that they have a 'communicable disease of public health significance,' they are prevented from entering the country. The same rule applies to foreigners seeking permanent residence in the U.S."
"We applaud President Bush for his order rescinding this outright ban on HIV positive foreigners entering the United States," said Michael Weinstein, AIDS Healthcare Foundation's President. "Now, instead of more complicated 'special waivers,' HIV-positive people would obtain a 'categorical waiver' for business or tourist visas for visits up to 60 days. Although we would like to see an even more enlightened approach on this issue, this executive order is a vast improvement over current law, and we than the president for his leadership in this area of HIV/AIDS policy and law."
Friday's executive order may also begin to pave the way for the International AIDS Conference to once again be hosted by a city in the U.S. This has not occurred since the congressional legislation instituting the ban was first enacted in 1993 -- as many of the participants, presenters and attendees at this global gathering are people living with HIV/AIDS, and under current U.S. law are therefore forbidden from entering this country.
SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation
061204
PR061210
Copyright © 2006 - PRNewswire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through PRNewswire, Permissions, 810 Seventh Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019 http://www.prnewswire.com.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .