October 30, 2009

Obama Lifts HIV Travel Ban

President Barack Obama announced October 30 that the 22-year-old ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants entering the United States will be lifted, Reuters reports. The administration will publish a final rule eliminating the travel ban on Monday, November 2. The rule will go into effect in January 2010.

“We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the AIDS pandemic—yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country,” said Obama while signing legislation that will extend the Ryan White CARE Act through the 2013 fiscal year. “If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it.”

In a separate statement, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, applauded the announcement. “We’re thrilled that the ban has been lifted based on science, reason, and human rights,” said amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost. “Our hope is that this decision reflects a commitment to adopting more evidence-based policies when confronting the AIDS epidemic and developing a comprehensive national AIDS strategy.”

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Previous Comments:

Steve Murphy, Port Townsend, WA, 2009-11-03 11:40:41
At last. So many people are incredulous when I tell them that this country, just like China and others, forbids entry to HIV-positive people. I live near Canada and this directly affects people I know.

S.C., Orlando, FL, 2009-11-03 11:34:17
The lifting of the ban was signed by George W. I'm not a fan of W, but give credit where credit is due. The Bush administration didn't have enough time to implement the lift. This blind Obama worshipping is going to wind up biting us in the butt.

Donna, West Covina, CA, 2009-11-02 09:02:12
Thats A Wonderful step! I am happy, but I just wish they would work on reducing stigma, and encorporate better sex education just as fast as they passed this law. It does seem like things are improving though. =)

blogfather, NYC, 2009-10-31 05:16:57
Finally!

K.B, , 2009-10-30 18:55:46
Thank you president Obama, finally this horrible ban will be over, allowing more research and more conventions to come to the U.S.