Immigration into the U.S. should be carefully regulated. Not stopped. Of course not. Americans are a hospitable people and they understand that immigration is a noble, important and very welcome part of our history and our future.But controlled and legal it definitely should be.
And in this article for Fox News Health Blog, Dr. Manny Alvarez reminds readers of one of the common sense reasons why; namely, our nation's physical health.
...If you look at the way that legal immigration is conducted around the world, it is always based on a set of checks and balances. One of those checks is the prevention of certain communicable diseases.
Here is a list of things people applying for visa/residency status in this country may be tested for during their physical exam as required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services.
* Tuberculosis
* Syphilis (for applicants 15 years or older)
* HIV (blood test)
* Gonorrhea
* Narcotic drug addiction
* Physical or mental disorders with associated harmful behavior
* Chancroid
* Lymphogranuloma venerum
* Granuloma inguinal
Under the immigration laws of the United States, a foreign national who applies for an immigrant visa abroad, or who seeks to adjust status to a permanent resident while in the U.S., is required to receive vaccinations to prevent the following diseases:
* Mumps Measles-Rubella
* Polio
* Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids
* Pertussis
* Haemophilus influenzae type B
* Hepatitis B
* Any other vaccine-preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices
Now, this list is not just an American standard — you will find similar lists in most developed countries around the world. Without a system of checks and balances, we run the risk of having diseases that have otherwise been eradicated in this country coming back in a big way. When people travel here illegally, they could have the potential to spread certain diseases that could be very devastating to the general population...
Read more here.
