President Bush and Congress this summer voted to repeal a ban on HIV-positive travelers.
The move was hailed as a huge success by activists on both sides of the political divide, particularly within gay communities.
Such celebrations, however, were premature, because the Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday that it is "streamlining" the process, but will not be lifting the ban entirely.
From an Immigration Equality press release:
[The DHS says] it will issue regulations which purport to “streamline†the waiver application process for HIV-positive short-term visitors. The move comes nearly two years after President Bush directed the agency to streamline the process and fails to follow Congress’ mandate to end the ban."The timing of these regulations is deeply troubling," said Victoria Neilson, Legal Director of Immigration Equality. "In July, Congress issued a bipartisan message to this Administration – remove HIV as a barrier to travel and immigration. Instead of simply ending the HIV travel ban, the administration is again treating HIV differently from any other medical condition."
…
Regulatory change is needed to completely lift the ban; meanwhile, the HIV travel ban continues to be enforced. The regulations issued yesterday do not end the ban.
Maybe the DHS thinks HIV-positive people are terrorists, or something…
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Andrew Sullivan made the point that a Palin government isn't going to go out of the way to deal properly and decently with people who have HIV and I'm inclined to agree.
I'm not sure that I care what Sullivan thinks , altough, Palin would probably have gay people in jail if she could.
The fact is that this is an appaling and Unconstitutional assault on civil rights for abs lutely no reason related to Homeland security.
It is merely prejudicial and irrational ratshit.
They should put restrictions on Bush for fear that he will spread mental disease.
Maybe they're doing it to protect Larry C from himself, afraid that he might swallow the wrong load of foreigner cum in some airport restroom. We don't believe, do we, that Idaho's most infamous son is the only white, over-the-hill Republican for whom this activity is their real sex life…?
Am I missing something here ?!?
How can the Dept of Homeland Security *decide* anything if the POTUS and COTUS *voted* and passed legislation to this effect?
What have we created? An agency outside the Constitution?
This administration is ridiculous. They have trampled the Constitution to an unprecedented degree. Ignoring treaties and existing laws protecting the accused. Adding "signing statements" to legislation the President signs that essentially changes the meaning and intent of the laws he's expected to enforce. And now allowing executive agencies to willfully ignore legislation enacted by Congress and signed by the President — an agency that honestly should have nothing to do with the enforcement of the repealed law to begin with.
It doesn't help matters that they put the Crypt Keeper in charge of the DoHS, either.
I recently experienced HIV-based discrimination when I was traveling via the U.S. to Ecuador: the whole trip had to be canceled. You can read about my experience by clicking on my website url.