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US finally lifts ban on visitors who are HIV positive
United States
US HIV ban lifted today
The United States has finally lifted its ban on HIV-positive people entering its borders.
The law – in force for 22 years – was an archaic thorn in the side of America’s immigration policy and one which was paramount in Barack Obama’s reforms when he came to power. The US president had described the ban as “rooted in fear rather than fact,” adding that lifting it is a “step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment. It’s a step that will keep families together, and it’s a step that will save lives.”
UK HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust has welcomed the move, which also barred foreign residents of the States from obtaining official resident status.
“It’s ridiculous that for over 20 years people living with HIV have been banned from entering the US simply because of a medical condition.
“Removing the ban is long overdue and we congratulate the US government on seeing economic and medical sense. Terrence Higgins Trust and many others have campaigned against the ban since it was introduced.
"Blanket entry bans have no justification on public health grounds and only increase stigma. We hope other countries with similar bans in place will now remove them too."
These other countries include Qatar and Yemen.
On Top magazine reports the first HIV-positive person to enter the US will be Clemens Ruland, a 45-year-old Dutch youth worker. He and his partner, Hugo Bausch, 50, will be welcomed by LGBT group Immigration Equality when they arrive in New York later today.
