June 29, 2009

Obama Takes Steps to End the HIV Travel Ban

The federal Office of Management and Budget posted a notice on its website June 26 saying that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could take steps to remove a travel regulation that prohibits HIV-positive travelers from entering the United States, The Advocate reports. Specifics about the regulatory change will be available in the next few days.

“We won’t know all of the details until the HHS regulation is posted,” said Steve Ralls, communications director for Immigration Equality. “Congress’s intent was clear that this should be a clean lift of the ban—our hope is that will be reflected in the HHS regulation.”

Former President George W. Bush signed into law a measure to remove the HIV travel ban last summer, but HHS has yet to put the new policy into effect. After a substantial public comment and approval phase, the new travel regulation could go into effect in the fall.

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Previous Comments:

Khalil, Wilmington, DE, 2009-07-20 17:34:19
Great news! Now, and just maybe (once the travel ban is actually lifted), my fellow DelTech alumni who may have traveled overseas but could not return because of the ban can come back. Maybe because of the ban, I could not find my old friend from elTech. might finally get my chance to say Welcome back!" and give her a great big hug!

Girum, Addis Ababa, 2009-07-06 10:07:27
As The Person Living With Hiv Aids I Fill Happy And Acknowledge The People Of America In General And The Government Of Obama Inparticular For Such kindness Decision that makes me to fill as am equal as anybody else. Please tell others like South Korea, what travel ban is all about.

WhosFoolingWho, Washington DC, 2009-07-02 07:45:14
It's about time! What an outrageous discrimination!!!

Frederick Wright, GNPUSA, Tampa Bay, 2009-07-01 09:14:55
Go Prez, for this would be wonderful to lift the travel band in the USA if we employed Over The Counter Rapid HIV Screen Kits too for sale in CVS,Walgreens,Walmart and such to make sure that our National Security efforts are covered with hopes for the 250,000 plus HIV people in the USA receive treatment and testing. The 250,000 HIV people that have no idea they are HIV (CDC), to help End AIDS.

beth, north central WI, 2009-06-30 22:30:24
ironic that i could travel to a former communist country with hiv meds (no questions asked), but others may not travel into the US. hope it changes soon.

Wes, St Louis, 2009-06-30 17:26:43
It was hard to complain about other counties when we ourselves won't let HIV-er's in. Hopefully others will lift their bans in time. CHANGE is comming.

steve, new albany, 2009-06-30 08:54:25
what about other country's is there some that will not let us hiv'er in?