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Obama ends HIV travel and immigration ban

By Eric Zimmermann - 10/30/09 01:11 PM ET

President Obama announced today that he'll end the travel and immigration ban on HIV-positive individuals.

The ban was implemented in 1987. Obama announced the decision at a signing ceremony for the Ryan White Act, which funds HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.

Opponents of the ban had tried unsuccessfully to overturn the ban in the early 90s.

Obama said the ban was "rooted in fear rather than fact."

"We talk about reducing the stigma of this disease, yet we've treated a visitor living with it as a threat," Obama said. "If we want to be the global leader in combatting HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it."

The President said lifting the ban would help keep families together.

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65653-obama-ends-hiv-travel-and-immigration-ban
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Comments (20)

The Obama stupidity never stops. Now we are going to allow those known to have HIV to immigrate (ie…become yet another illegal alien) to the US. This stupidity was topped only by the HHS not testing airline passengers from Mexico for swine flu back when only a handful of persons, nearly all from Mexico, were known to have the disease.Gary ClouserBY Gary Clouser on 10/30/2009 at 15:47
This is crazy! Our health system will now have to pick up the worlds AID's medical bills,. Why won't many come here just for treatment , which is possibly among the most expensive. He is again, going in the wrong direction.BY Dick Dan  on 10/30/2009 at 15:53
These previous readers' comments are amazing! We allow terminally ill people to come here. I'm guessing, but I think their treatment is pretty expensive, too. U.S. citizens spread much of the HIV to other countries (except in Africa)—not the other way around. And the H1N1 flu could have been prevented had we had passengers been tested—give me a break. I work in Public Health and it's not Obama's stupidity showing, baby, it's yours.BY annb on 10/30/2009 at 16:27
How Lovely…This President will spend time overturning a Ban put in place for decades specifically to protect "ALL" citizens of this country while bowing to splinter advocacy groups for the sake of votes and a photo op. For a so called constititional scholar , one would think he can read the meaning behind "preserve,defend and protect" I guess the past administrations funds to prevent AIDs in africa and other countries dont go far enough for him, we can now take on the treatment of these unfortunates directly as we are all "citizens of the world" …3 years 3 months and counting…BY Dan on 10/30/2009 at 16:28
are you serious! This ban does nothing except increase cost of each and every tax paying American citizen. I am a health care worker and understand the absurdity of the situation. The cost of aids and HIV treatment is tremendous. We should not let anyone into our country with illness that could in anyway impact the cost to Americans reguardless of what disease. We all have big hearts but our pocketbooks need to rule what we do in certain circumstances.BY Kathleen MasonMorton on 10/30/2009 at 16:59
We have enough of our own citizens who have AIDS on Medicaid. We don't need more, and that's exactly what will happen when the floodgates open. They will come for the free medical care.BY indie on 10/30/2009 at 18:16
WOW WHAT NEXTI GOT ITWe open our borders, welcome everyone.We than join hands and sing the old Coke a Cola song.Pledge 70% of our income to taxes and opt for the Death plan in the new health care bill at 60What a country.BY BOBD on 10/30/2009 at 18:28
ah, the usual fearmongering and hatemongering and ignorancemonger ing.Thank goddess, Mr. President. While we chafe at the pace, you are chipping away at the shameful shrub disasters…BY portlanddan on 10/30/2009 at 18:55
This is obserd. This will crash our economy even more. This is going to be a disaster. The hiv/aids will spread even more and by the time our kids are adults it will not be good.BY samanrha on 10/30/2009 at 20:17
woe! you don't give a wit about HIV/AIDS, you merely wish to whine about your bigotry and hatred in "new" ways. Hey, I know: let's start a war with Zimbabwe! We can then use our troops to deliver antiretrovirals and "win" the war! Yay!But we pay for it with Pentagon funds.Priceless…BY portlanddan on 10/30/2009 at 20:51

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