WASHINGTON, DC: US. Congress overwhelmingly amended an outdated 1952 McCarran Walter Act, which in the past barred “undesirables” aliens communists, homosexuals, terrorists, spies, prostitutes, polygamists and several others to visit United States.
This cold war-era law kept thousands of visitors out of U’S solely because of their political views but whom in no way threatened the country’s interests.
A 1977 amendment allowed waivers to be granted in exceptional cases. The law however, remained quite restrictive and was administered with vengeance to meet political ends of state department.
According to latest law, no foreign visitor will be barred to visit USS based upon his political or personal orientation. However, potential residents can still be rejected on such growth.
There remain at least 30 other criteria for denying visitor visa. It is still feared by civil activists that State Dept. can often find “un-political” grounds to refuse entry, seems unlikely to stop that practice.
In another move the INS has abandoned a rarely imposed but still inhuman policy of deporting undocumented spouses and dependent. Children of aliens legalized by the 1986 Immigration Reform: Act.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 16, 1990
