Canadian Martin Rooney is challenging a 1987 U.S. law which bans those with HIV from entering the United States. Rooney, from British Columbia, said that he was fingerprinted at the Washington state border and denied entrance to he US after he told an immigration official that he was on diability due to HIV.

Globally, there are just 13 countries that ban HIV-positive visitors and immigrants. That list includes the US, as well as other countries such as China, Iraq, Saudia Arabia, and Sudan. Under the US Immigration and Nationality, HIV is the only medical condition singled out as a basis for inadmissibility.

In a recent email, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) said that the restriction was ridiculous.

"This law was written when little was known about the disease and destructive stigmas often won the day. With new knowledge about the disease, we must make it clear that this discriminatory, Draconian law will no longer be tolerated."

Kerry had attached an amendment to the global AIDS relief bill which would end the practice. This month, it was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations committee, but still faces a full Senate vote before heading to the House.