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U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV and AIDS - 11/29/2007 2:31:18 PM

darchChylde

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From: Warm Springs, GA but i live in San Francisco.
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U R G E N T A C T I O N A L E R T
To U.S.-Based Activists

A Message from
Rev. Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches

November 29, 2007

Your voice is urgently needed to oppose proposed U.S. regulations that would single out people with HIV and AIDS for unjust treatment.

Did you know that the United States is one of only 13 nations that impose travel bans on people living with HIV and AIDS? (The other countries are Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Moldova, Russia, Armenia, and South Korea.) For many years, MCC has opposed this unjust federal regulation.

One year ago -- on World AIDS Day 2006 -- the President of the United States promised to streamline travel regulations for HIV+ people traveling to and through the United States. He promised to make it easier for people living with HIV and AIDS to cross the U.S. borders.

Sadly, that promise is about to be denied as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prepares to issue even more stringent guidelines.

In proposing these new, tighter regulations -- and limiting the period of public comment only through December 6th -- the United States joins far more repressive countries in restricting the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS and in limiting the freedom of speech we so highly prize.

Today -- before it is too late! -- please join me in insisting that the Bush Administration stop the adoption of unjust regulations imposed on HIV+ people entering the United States.

The United States government is receiving public comment through December 6th and you can post your comments on-line.

Here's how to make your voice heard:

1. Go to www.regulations.gov.

2. At the top of the page, click on "Search Dockets."

3. On the next page, enter USCBP-2007-0084 on the line for "Docket ID" -- then click "Submit" on the lower right side of the page.

4. On the next page, click on the Docket ID.

5. On the next page, click on "Add Comments."

-- Let the Department of Homeland Security know that no one traveling to or through the United States should have to give up the right to apply for future changes in their immigration status, as these new regulations could mandate.

-- Let the U.S. government know that it is wrong to mandate that visitors to the U.S. need to be able to afford health care coverage or a month's supply of medications in order to visit family or friends, as these regulations could legislate.

-- Make it clear that no one should be deterred from seeking HIV testing or treatment while on U.S. shores for fear of jeopardizing future immigration opportunities.

By closing the borders of the United States to our brothers and sisters around the globe who are living with HIV and AIDS and who look to the U.S. as a place of refuge and hope, the current administration guarantees that more lives will be needlessly lost in the fight against AIDS and that the battle for freedom from oppression --- so much a part of our legacy -- will take another step backward.

HIV and AIDS continue to be among the greatest human rights and social justice issues of our lifetimes. According to the International Harm Reduction Development Program, "The protection of human rights is the way to protect public health."

Listen to the words of Joshua Love, MCC Program Director for Global HIV/AIDS Ministry, "In a world where 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, including 2.3 million children under the age of 15, we believe HIV/AIDS advocacy is at the core of our work for human rights and global justice. From Jamaica to Darfur to Eastern Europe to right here in the United States, people with HIV and AIDS need to be treated as full and equal human beings, who have the same rights as anyone else to travel, to seek support, to access medical care, and to find a safe haven."

Go to www.regulations.gov and make your voice heard today on Docket ID USCBP-2007-0084.

Together we can "Fight AIDS! Keep the Promise!"

Rev. Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches

P.S. Will you take one more step? Please forward this Action Alert to your friends and to your lists today.

__________________________________________________

Metropolitan Community Churches was the world's first Christian

denomination to create a full-time staff position for HIV and AIDS Ministry.

For 26 years, MCC congregations around the globe have demonstrated leadership and advocacy

on behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS, and their families and friends.

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 11/29/2007 2:50:11 PM

seeksfemslave

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Just wondering what exactly are the advantages of allowing people suffering from HIV/AIDS to travel to any country ?
Or the disadvantages of not allowing entry ?

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 11/29/2007 3:03:57 PM

Archer

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During the twenty years since Congress directed HHS to add
infection with HIV to the list of dangerous contagious diseases, thus
adding infection with HIV as a ground of inadmissibility under the INA,
the Executive Branch has gained considerable experience in deciding
when to allow the admission of nonimmigrant aliens with HIV infection.
The history of this period has shown that DHS and the Department of
Justice have consistently approved DOS consular recommendations that
nonimmigrant visas be granted to aliens with HIV infection when the
applicant: Sought to travel to the United States for thirty days or
less for a lawful purpose consistent with the business visitor or
tourist nonimmigrant classification; had been diagnosed with HIV
infection; had received medical counseling; was in compliance with
medically-advised behavior and medically-prescribed treatment
protocols; was able to demonstrate availability once in the United
States of an adequate supply of antiretroviral medications if medically
appropriate; and was not likely to require assistance that would result
in any cost incurred by any level of government agency in the United
States without the prior consent of that agency.

So basicly If you have the information and the means to continue your medical treatment and taking your meds without transfering the cost to a US government, the consistant approval is all but a given. "Consistantly Approved"

On December 1, 2006, President Bush directed the Secretary of State
to request that the Secretary of Homeland Security initiate a
rulemaking that would propose a categorical waiver of inadmissibility
for aliens who are HIV-positive and who seek to enter the United States
on short-term visas. In furtherance of the President's directive,
Secretary of State Rice, by letter dated June 6, 2007, recommended that
the Secretary of Homeland Security grant a limited waiver of
inadmissibility under the INA to persons who are currently inadmissible
to the United States solely due to their HIV-positive condition.

So this Rulemaking is how Bush is fullfilling his promise, by asking that the exemption be set as a catagory for approval rather than a case by case ad hoc system as it exists currently.

The requirements for the B-1 and B-2 Visas for those with HIV as outlined in the regulation are minimal.
They make sure the person is not going to be a burden on the US system and that they know how the disease is transmitted.
OMG thats so terrible they have to know how not to spread the disease and they have to be able to continue their medical treatment out of their own insurance or pocket. The horrors.

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 11/29/2007 3:17:26 PM

Rushemery

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"OMG thats so terrible they have to know how not to spread the disease and they have to be able to continue their medical treatment out of their own insurance or pocket. The horrors."

I agree the US aught to fix everybody and take care of the world, just think how happy everyone would be if we extended welfare to all the nations of the world, nobody would be blowing us up then

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 11/29/2007 5:26:06 PM

pinksugarsub

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HIV and AIDS is a pandemic; we cannot react as if it is not happening. Keeping people with contagious and deadly diseases from entry to the US has been going on since Ellis Island; and the current pandemic makes that more urgent, not less.

Much as i hate to agree with The Shrub about anything, i do agree with this. It's not a complete ban, which i might also support; it's a burden on the traveler to demonstrate he or she can cope with the disease while here without our help.

When i worked in Florida i thought one injustice was the use of public funds to buy viagra for HIV and AIDS patients. Why should we artifically assist them in spreading the disease? But they repressnted a sizable profit margin and the pharmacutical lobby would not allow the formulary to be rewritten.

pinksugarsub

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 11/30/2007 12:03:42 AM

popeye1250

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From: New Hampshire
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Yeah, we just can't do it.
We'd have thousands of people comming here and getting treatment on the U.S. Taxpayer dollar.
We can't afford it!
We're not doing very good treating our own people.

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 11/30/2007 12:22:03 AM

slaveboyforyou

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Why is HIV/AIDS the only disease that people get political about? I don't mean to sound insensitive, but I hate this martyr attitude that people get over this disease.

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 11/30/2007 9:56:11 AM

popeye1250

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quote:

ORIGINAL: slaveboyforyou

Why is HIV/AIDS the only disease that people get political about? I don't mean to sound insensitive, but I hate this martyr attitude that people get over this disease.

Slaveboy, agreed.
And hospitals and doctors need to know who their giving treatments/ operations to also.
It seems now that they operate/treat people who shouldn't be treated as their in the country illegally and then when they don't pay (surprise!) they just bill us, the U.S. Taxpayers!
That's got to stop. If the govt. stops paying them it will stop.
And, we shouldn't be letting in anyone with an infectious disease.
Why would we "want" someone with hiv/aids comming into the country in the first place?
Do people think that these people are "not" going to try to get treatment on the Taxpayer's dime?
And how many of them just "dissapear" and become illegal aliens?

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 11/30/2007 6:46:43 PM

petdave

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Are we suffering such a severe shortage of people that we need to start importing them with infectious diseases? i don't get why i should be upset about this?

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RE: U.S. regulations would single out people with HIV a... - 12/1/2007 12:06:48 PM

popeye1250

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quote:

ORIGINAL: petdave

Are we suffering such a severe shortage of people that we need to start importing them with infectious diseases? i don't get why i should be upset about this?

PetDave, me neither.
I don't want to have to pay for the medical bills of foreign nationals who obviously want to come to the U.S. to scam the (our) system.
There was an article in Yahoo News a few weeks ago about foreign nationals who were comming here to the U.S. to get operations and when they were recuperated they just left, either back to their own countries or "dissapeared" into our country as illegal aliens!
Doctors, surgeons and hospitals need to know for sure who they're treating and if it's a foreign national they need to get all their fees "up front."
It's wrong for them to try to pass (their) expense onto us Taxpayers! That should not be an option.
People need to get treatment for aids or other diseases in their own countries.
And no, we shouldn't be letting anyone with an infectious disease into this country! Our govt is supposed to be protecting us against this kind of thing.

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