Christine L. Case, Ed.D.
Biology Professor
Skyline College

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Immigration

Immigration Act of 1907
That the following classes of aliens shall be excluded from admission into the United States: All idiots, imbeciles, feebleminded persons, epileptics, insane persons, and persons who have been insane within five years previous; persons who have had two or more attacks of insanity at any time previously; paupers; persons likely to become a public charge; professional beggars; persons afflicted with tuberculosis or with a loathsome or dangerous contagious disease.

 

Current Immigration Act
Persons with "communicable disease of public health significance" (Table 1) will not be allowed into the U.S. Aliens must show proof of vaccination for vaccine preventable diseases (Table 2).

Table 1
Table 2

Diseases of Public Health Significance

  1. Tuberculosis
  2. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection
  3. Syphilis
  4. Chancroid
  5. Gonorrhea
  6. Granuloma Inguinale
  7. Lymphogranuloma Venereum
  8. Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)

 

Vaccine Preventable Diseases

  1. Mumps
  2. Measles
  3. Rubella
  4. Polio
  5. Tetanus
  6. Diphtheria
  7. Pertussis
  8. Influenza type B
  9. Hepatitis B
 

Questions

  1. Does this favor immigration of the rich and Western Europeans?
  2. The diseases listed in Table 1 except for HIV and Leprosy are curable. Should the U.S. provide treatment?
  3. Is vaccination for the diseases in Table 2 a reasonable requirement?
  4. Should the U.S. provide the vaccinations?
  5. Does the U.S. have the responsibility to provide the vaccinations?
  6. Should the vaccinations be given to every applicant or only have their paperwork has been approved?