https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7 en-us 2023-04-04 12:25:53 UTC 2023-04-11 01:45:48 UTC hello@padlet.com ccamp29 https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543604619

In 1952, the United States implemented the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to restrict entrance into the US based on medical diagnoses

The medical reasons that permitted entry into the US were initially defined as "dangerous contagious diseases." These diseases included substance abuse and mental health disorders. This name was later changed to a "communicable disease of public health significance."
 

]]> 2023-04-04 12:33:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543604619 ccamp29 https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543614076

The US economic recession in the early 1980s experienced a dramatic increase of immigrants wanting jobs and to make a living in the US

Rise of fear within the US population of foreigners taking jobs and healthcare

During this time, the AIDS epidemic broke out, and even more fear came about as the disease was heavily stigmatized, and there wasn't enough research and knowledge to know the direct and immediate impacts of HIV/AIDS

1987: AIDS was added by the Department of Health and Human Services to the list of dangerous diseases or the list of "communicable disease of public health significance"

]]> 2023-04-04 12:42:03 UTC https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543614076 ccamp29 https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543627109

The first travel ban was instituted in 1987 by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under pressure from the Reagan Administration, which added HIV/AIDS to the list of "communicable diseases of public health significance" that could bar entry into the country. This meant that anyone who tested positive for HIV or who had been diagnosed with AIDS was barred from entering the US. 

Applied to any non-US citizen living with HIV/AIDS

Restrictions on travel within the US for people with HIV/AIDS: People were initially banned from traveling on commercial airlines

Immigration officials were instructed to ask incoming travelers about their HIV status and to deny entry to anyone who was found to be HIV positive. 

]]> 2023-04-04 12:53:41 UTC https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543627109 ccamp29 https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543628621

The ban was initially intended to be temporary and was reviewed annually. However, it remained in place for more than two decades, despite mounting evidence that it was ineffective and discriminatory. The ban was widely criticized by public health experts, human rights organizations, and advocacy groups, who argued that it was not based on sound scientific evidence and stigmatized people living with HIV/AIDS.

]]> 2023-04-04 12:55:04 UTC https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543628621 ccamp29 https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543646359

The Hans Paul Verhoef case was one of the biggest issues that came to light during the 1980s, exposing the travel bans in the US

Verhoef, a Dutch citizen and chair of the Dutch HIV Foundation who was HIV positive, was detained while traveling to San Francisco to attend the National AIDS Forum in 1989. Verhoef was found carrying AZT in his luggage and wasn't able to attend the forum or enter the US due to the travel bans put in place

Verhoef's case caused protests and boycotts at following AIDS conferences and conventions in the US and hit home for the entire AIDS community on a global scale

This case also triggered political debate in Congress as there were huge pressure to uplift the travel bans

]]> 2023-04-04 13:07:59 UTC https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543646359 ccamp29 https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543653070

In 1991, the National Commission on AIDS called for an end to the ban: The Bush Administration attempted to remove the bans but was barred by Congress

In 1993, the American Medical Association passed a resolution calling for its repeal, and the Clinton administration tried lifting the bans; however, Congress resulted in enforcing the ban even more and writing it into law

In 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on all countries to eliminate HIV-related  travel restrictions

Finally, in 2009, the travel ban was lifted by the Obama administration. The decision followed a review by the Department of Health and Human Services, which found that the ban was "no longer justified" and that it "did not have an impact on the HIV epidemic in the United States." 

]]> 2023-04-04 13:13:30 UTC https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543653070 ccamp29 https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543665157

The travel bans were widely controversial and criticized by public health experts, human rights organizations, and advocacy groups, who argued that they were not based on sound scientific evidence and stigmatized people living with HIV/AIDS. 

Stigma and Discrimination: 

• HIV/AIDS was heavily stigmatized during the early years of the epidemic, and people living with the virus faced widespread discrimination. This made it difficult to build political will to repeal the travel bans and other discriminatory policies.

Lack of scientific understanding/knowledge: 

• In the early years of the epidemic, there was still limited scientific understanding of HIV/AIDS, and many policymakers and the public were misinformed about how the virus was transmitted. This led to fear and misunderstanding about the potential risks of allowing people with HIV/AIDS into the US

Political resistance: 

• Some politicians and interest groups opposed lifting the travel bans, either because of personal beliefs or as part of a broader political agenda. This resistance made it difficult to pass legislation or convince policymakers to take action, and it brought great conflict between Democrats and Republicans in Congress. In addition, the travel bans remained in place for so long, in part because of inertia within government agencies and the lack of political will to take action.

]]> 2023-04-04 13:23:05 UTC https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543665157 ccamp29 https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543681686

In 2009, the Obama Administration announced an end to the travel ban that lasted 22 years: 

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

The lifting of the travel ban impacted people on an individual and global level:

• Individual: 
  • Safer and easier travel for people living with HIV/AIDS 
• Global: 
  • Combats the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and aligns with the United States' global efforts to help support the fight against the AIDS epidemic

The uplifting of the travels bans was also an extreme call to action as a society, we must continue to advocate for better healthcare and alliance with the immigrant community, along with advanced education and prevention efforts surrounding HIV/AIDS

]]> 2023-04-04 13:35:42 UTC https://padlet.com/ccamp29/nafxsx3ximazimw7/wish/2543681686