In July 2008, Congress voted to repeal a 20-year policy banning HIV-positive immigrants and nonimmigrants from entering the U.S. or becoming permanent residents. The antiquated policy prevented much-needed professionals from working in America, while legal immigrants who became infected with HIV after arriving in the U.S. were left to agonize over their future. In 2009, President Obama signed the Ryan White Act, lifting the ban on travel and immigration by HIV-positive individuals.
Celebrating the HIV Travel and Immigration Ban Repeal on World AIDS Day
December 1, 2009
USCIS released a memo on November 24, 2009 amending the Adjudicator's Field Manual, providing guidance to USCIS officers on how to adjudicate current cases involving HIV from now until the ban is officially repealed on January 4, 2010.
The Next Step in the HIV Travel Ban Repeal
July 2, 2009
The proposed rule to remove HIV from the definition of communicable disease was in the Federal Register. The 45-day Notice and Comment period is the next step to repeal the HIV ban.
The Next Step in the HIV Travel Ban Repeal
July 2, 2009
The proposed rule to remove HIV from the definition of communicable disease was in the Federal Register. The 45-day Notice and Comment period is the next step to repeal the HIV ban.
A Year Later, HIV-Positive Travelers Still Banned
June 18, 2009
A year after Congress voted to remove the HIV travel and immigration ban, the Department of Health and Human Services had still not made good on its promise to remove HIV from its list of communicable diseases.
The Next Step in the HIV Travel Ban Repeal
July 2, 2009
As the next step in the repeal process, the proposed rule to remove HIV from the definition of communicable disease has been published. The complete notice is published in the Federal Register and is available for public comment on or before August 17, 2009.
Activists Have Hope
December 31, 2008
A message for the new year, as atavists echo Barack Obama's message of hope. Supporters are calling on the new administration to support the Congressional vote to repeal the HIV travel and immigration ban.
Steamlined Process Doesn't Ease Ban Blues
October 8, 2008
Despite pressure from Congress, the Department of Human and Health Services (HHS) has not rewritten the regulation that lists HIV as a communicable disease, and instead released a new process as an alternative to the special waiver.
HIV Immigration Ban Repeal Passes Through Congress
July 24, 2008
The House voted 303 to 115 today to reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program. President Bush is expected to sign the bill without delay.
Senate Lifts HIV Immigration Ban
July 17, 2008
The Senate voted today to repeal the HIV travel and immigration ban. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) led the effort to include the HIV immigration and travel ban as a provision to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) bill. The bill passed with an 80-16 vote.
