Jamaicans to face Green cards vaccination hurdle

JAMAICANS APPLYING for permanent residence in the United States must be vaccinated as part of the green card process.

The new requirement released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) comes into effect October 1.

The stricture applies to applicants from all countries, New York immigration attorney Latoya McBean announced to viewers during one of her YouTube programmes Tuesday evening.

It is not clear what date the CDC uploaded the information on its website, but the page was last reviewed August 17.

According to the US organisation, owing to the fact the virus is a public health emergency of international concern under the International Health Regulations, the disease creates unique challenges for the immigration-related medical evaluation.

Specifically, COVID-19 meets the definition of severe acute respiratory syndromes as specified by Presidential Executive Order 13674 (issued July 31, 2014), thus making it a Class A Inadmissable Condition.

Persons with compelling reasons why they can’t be vaccinated may be granted a blanket waiver based on health issues or another type of exemption based on moral or religious convictions.

Already the new requirement has come under immense criticism,with detractors calling it a violation of human rights.

“All governments need to be sued for enforcing this,” Dianoza Zuro stated in the comments section of McBean’s television channel.

“Unconstitutional,” said another commentator, bolstered by Eldin Jno Baptiste, who asked, “Are we going to allow a few organisations who are run by a few who hold secret agendas to control our entire world?”

(Jamaica Gleaner)