The USCIS and the CDC have issued new protocols for the testing of TB in immigrant populations. While the desire to protect US citizens from being exposed to TB is certainly a need, there has been an unintended consequence to the new protocols. Children legally adopted by US citizens are being denied their visas. There are several families in China and Ethiopia now who are facing the horrendous decision to leave THEIR (both legally and emotionally) child in an institution for up to 9 months or face financial ruin to remain with their child in country. All medical evidence indicates that children AT LEAST up to age 7 are NOT contagious, EVEN if they have active TB AND after 2-4 weeks of treatment NO ONE is contagious. While we applaud the efforts of the government to protect us, it should be noted that these rules do not apply to citizen children who live abroad, even if they live in TB epidemic areas and there are not rules to prevent someone with active TB from entering the US on a tourist visa. Please consider signing the petition- it only takes a second and while it may not matter to you- it might allow a child to join their family (and get appropriate medical care) instead of spending another year in an orphanage. Please forward this on- the more people who voice their concerns the more likely to get a solution that protects both the child and the country.
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1 comment:
I already signed this petition. I am really enjoying your blog. What a lovely family you have. Found you through RQ.
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