Comment from Aitcheson, Marcia

As an advanced practice registered nurse and a former lawful permanent resident who lived in the United States for more than 30 years before becoming a U.S. citizen, I have a strong interest in this regulation because it affects the ability of lawful permanent residents to return to the United States, even though many have established deep and longstanding ties to this country. As a nurse who worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I have firsthand experience with the challenges of infectious disease prevention and public health response. That experience has reinforced my belief that effective disease-control measures should be based on scientific evidence, exposure risk, and consistent screening practices rather than immigration status alone. I am also concerned about the potential impact this rule could have on families, communities, and individuals who have built their lives in the United States. My comments relate specifically to the portion of the regulation that would restrict or suspend the entry of certain lawful permanent residents returning from countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks. This aspect of the rule concerns me because it appears to treat lawful permanent residents differently from U.S. citizens and nationals, even though infectious diseases do not distinguish among individuals based on citizenship or immigration status. I care about ensuring that public health policies are both effective and equitable, and I believe that comprehensive screening and risk-based assessment procedures applied to all travelers from affected areas would better serve the stated public health goals while reducing unnecessary hardship for affected individuals and their families. Marcia Aitcheson, MSN, PMHNP-BC, RN Post Masters/DNP Student University at Buffalo