While CNN books guests to discuss the minutia of whether latex, nitrile rubber or vinyl and neoprene gloves are best when treating Ebola patients (Erin Burnett October 13) the broader issue of whether West African travel visas should be stopped is dismissed as a pure hypothetical extreme.\u00a0 And while CDC Director Thomas Frieden suggests that he needs to \u201crethink Ebola protocol\u201d he refuses to consider travel restrictions, despite a new Washington Post-ABC News poll showing 67% of the public support such a ban.<\/p>\n
In addition to the American public — usually leading the common sense curve — a growing number of lawmakers are urging immediate restrictions including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) and notably, House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas).<\/span><\/p>\n The number of U.S. visitor visas granted to the Ebola-stricken countries has been rising sharply at the same time the disease is multiplying at exponential rates, representing a volatile combination that merits visa restrictions.\u00a0 In 2013, the U.S. issued 3,500 visas to Liberians — a country with more than half of the 8,914 reported cases — and 13,000 visas total between Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. This week, the World Health Organization has released dire news, upping the fatality estimate from 50 percent to 70 percent and estimating there will be 10,000 new cases of Ebola in West Africa by December of this year.<\/span><\/p>\n Why no action?\u00a0 One clue might be hidden in the CDC director\u2019s recent statement that, \u201csealing the border simply creates public distrust.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mr. Director, no one is talking about \u201csealing the border\u201d in the context of this current crisis. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Americans simply want to limit the spread of a deadly disease and put in place a limited travel ban from high-risk areas only. \u00a0Why the hyperbole?\u00a0 Perhaps the Obama administration is not letting a crisis go to waste, once again. Refusing to consider common sense restrictions to those who may be inadmissible is a way to avoid contradicting the utopia they tell us is open borders.\u00a0 After all, for the Obama administration it\u2019s just fine that 12 million illegal aliens reside in the U.S without having had health care screening.\u00a0 Why worry about 3,500 from Liberia?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 1964, President Kennedy observed, “there is, of course, a legitimate argument for some limitation upon immigration.\u201d\u00a0 Serving the public interest during a potential health crisis by imposing modest travel bans is a very legitimate argument. More importantly it\u2019s a core responsibility of government.<\/span>