US Government Moves Toward Ending HIV-Positive Travel Ban

HIV Law Project welcomes the action taken today by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift the ban on HIV-positive individuals visiting or moving to the United States. HIV Law Project has long opposed the HIV ban as discriminatory and scientifically flawed. Today’s proposal represents the cumulative achievement of many advocates on behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS.

The proposed rule eliminates HIV as a ground of inadmissibility for both temporary travelers and immigrants seeking to settle permanently in the United States. HIV Law Project is encouraged by the CDC’s acknowledgement that the HIV ban contributes to stigmatization and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS, and does not reflect “current scientific knowledge and public health best practices.” Nevertheless, we believe the potential impact of the proposed regulation on people living with HIV warrants a thorough analysis. Keep checking www.hivlawproject.org for further developments and our comments on the proposed rule.