INS Seeks to Test Amnesty Filers for AIDS

The Immigration and Naturalization Service wants illegal aliens tested for AIDS when they apply for legalization under the new immigration law’s amnesty provisions, says the director of an INS regional center.

William Zimmer, director of the regional legalization processing center in Dallas, said the issue is under consideration at INS headquarters in Washington and is being discussed with federal public health officials.

Under current regulations, a test for acquired immune deficiency syndrome would not be required as part of a medical examination aliens must undergo to apply for legalization.

Federal regulations exclude aliens from entering the United States on seven grounds, five of them involving health, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Public Health Service said today. AIDS is not now on that list, but changes are being considered in that area, said Ellen Casselberry.

William Chambers of the regional processing center in Dallas said the surgeon general must classify a disease as loathsome, dangerous and contagious to prevent an alien from entering the country on medical grounds.

“We feel in the INS that AIDS should be part of the dangerous and contagious diseases but we’re having difficulty with the help of the surgeon general’s office in designating it as a dangerous disease,” Zimmer said.

“The surgeon general has to make that call,” he said.

As many as 3.9 million aliens nationwide are expected to seek legalization under provisions of a sweeping immigration reform act that became law last year, said Stephen Martin, commissioner of the INS southern regional office based in Dallas. The yearlong amnesty period begins May 5.

Because aliens applying for legalization must already submit to a blood test for other sexually transmitted diseases, Zimmer said it would be logical to give them AIDS tests and designate any who test positive as inadmissible.

If AIDS is not listed as a reason to reject an alien, Zimmer said those found with the disease could still be kept out on the grounds of becoming a public health charge.