US to end HIV ban
Published:Wednesday | July 16, 2008 | 4:32 PM
A two-decade ban on people with HIV visiting or immigrating to the United States may end soon through a Senate bill aimed at fighting AIDS and other diseases in Africa and other poor areas of the world.
The US is among several countries, including Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Russia that ban travel and immigration for HIV-positive people.
US Senators, John Kerry and Gordon Smith are reportedly trying to repeal the ban and are maintaining that there\'s no excuse for a law that stigmatises a particular disease.
Under current law, HIV is the only medical condition explicitly listed under immigration law.
The Kerry-Smith provision would make HIV equivalent to other communicable diseases.
Those with HIV seeking legal permanent residency would still have to demonstrate that they have the resources to live in the US and would not become a public burden.