JSI Urges Administration to Lift HIV Travel Restrictions

John Snow, Inc. opposes proposed regulations developed by the Bush administration's Department of Homeland Security that would increase the obstacles for people living with HIV to visit the United States.

The proposed new regulations, which would attach to existing travel restrictions, while purported to "ease" the present travel restriction are, in fact, more restrictive and create greater stigmatization of people living with HIV. In addition to disclosing their status to US government officials with limited or no training related to HIV disclosure, HIV-positive travelers must now also provide documentation that they are financially able to pay for any unanticipated healthcare needed during their visit, travel with all their required medications, make a commitment to adhere to these medications, and promise that they will not engage in any high-risk behavior while in the U.S. These requirements perpetuate a system which treats people living with HIV differently and with greater discrimination from other travelers wishing to come to the United States.

Joel Lamstein, JSI president made the following statement regarding the proposed regulations:
"President Bush has demonstrated tremendous commitment to combating HIV through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This commitment has given hope to millions and has provided people with resources necessary to address HIV in their community. The U.S. government's recent support to combat the pandemic has been laudatory and has put the President - and the United States - at the forefront of change. These new travel regulations, however, undermine that commitment.

"JSI is implementing several significant U.S. government-funded projects as part of the PEPFAR. To impose discriminatory restrictions now on people funded by the U.S. government to work on HIV simply because they are HIV-positive flies in the face of the work that the President has set out to do and the efforts PEPFAR has supported, including reducing HIV stigma. It is a serious violation of the human rights of those living with the virus."

Read JSI's full HIV Travel Restrictions Statement 12-5-07