We do this because of the high costs of caring for AIDS victims and to protect the health of our citizens. The approach taken by the conference committee was bipartisan and the provision in the report is identical to H.R. 985. a bill Introduced by the ranking member of the Subcommittee on International Law. Immigration. and Refugees. Mr. MCCOLLUM. This provision requires that HIV infection be deemed a communicable disease of public health significance for immigration purposes. By any commonsense understanding. HIV Infection is both communicable. and of public health significance. This provision Is the simplest and most direct approach to take on the Issue and Is fully consistent with the motion to Instruct. which passed this body by a vote of 356 to 58. The provision codifies the current policy that HIVInfected aliens be excluded. without making other unnecessary and complicated changes to our Immigration laws. Current immigration law allows the Attorney General to waive the healthrelated exclusion ground for nonlmmigrants. refugees. and close relatives of citizens and permanent residents. The Immigration and Nationality Act does not specify the circumstances under which an alien shall be required to undergo a medical examination to determine the existence of an excludable disease. nor does the act specify the circumstances under which an alien seekIng admission should be questioned about the aliens medical condition. Regulations. policies. and practices have developed with regard to waivers of exclusion. testing requirements. and healthrelated questioning. The conferees. by requiring that HIV be Included among the list of excludable diseases until such time as Congress shall remove it. have taken the position that waiver. questioning. and testing decisions should continue to be left to the discretion of the Attorney General.
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refugees immigration Refugees Immigration