One of the topics causing a big buzz in the United States currently is the issue of immigration. Now whether you view immigration as a negative or a positive thing is up to you, but here in this post we will go into the legal aspects of the matter.
Recently the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) revoked the requirement of female immigrant applicants ages 11 to 26 being vaccinated for the HPV (human papillomavirus vaccine) in order to receive their green card. This new stance has been seen as a move in the right direction for the CDC by Silvia Henriquez, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health as she stated “We thank the CDC for restoring their dignity and reproductive justice.”
Apparently, this requirement was looked upon as a violation of the rights of women seeking to gain residency in the country. The three-shot series was as seen as unfair since it was not required to be taken by the general American female population, trespassed informed decision-making and was also costly. After pressure amassed from a coalition of over 100 immigrant health and women’s advocacy groups which challenged the requirement, the CDC decided to make the change.
This triumph just goes to show that standing up for human rights does reap its rewards and reaffirms that positive change can be made. So here’s the scenario, you are immigrating to the United States but how do you ensure that you are being treated fairly and your rights are not being trampled upon? What can you do?
Hire an Immigration Lawyer
Due to the complexities and nature of immigration law, you may need to hire an immigration attorney. The process of immigration may seem like mere “form filing” but with so many laws involved, immigrants may often make mistakes on their filings resulting in reduced options and opportunities which may have benefited their cause.
Educate Yourself
LegalFish.com and other websites provide additional information about green cards and immigration law. Feel free to expand your knowledge on this topic whether you are in the process of immigrating or you know of someone, such as a family member or friend who is currently in the process.
Posted by Syddel on November 23, 2009 at 3:32 pm.
It’s fascinating that immigrants were ever required to receive the HPV vaccination.
I keep vacillating between the ideas that either 1.) the US government cared so much about female immigrants to require them to receive the vaccination and thus lower their chances of contracting HPV and cervical cancer or 2.) the US government required them to have the vaccination because it subtlety believed that those female immigrants were more than likely to spread HPV to US citizens (perhaps insinuating promiscuity of a kind).
Either way, I’m glad they reestablished their *choice* in this matter.
My family and I received our green cards two years ago. There was no HPV vaccination requirement.