Marlink said he thought the amendment would pass in the House because of the "perceived public mis-conception of...an economic and health threat."

The debate over immigration restrictions for those infected with HIV has raged for several years.

In the fall of 1991, the Harvard AIDS Institute announced that it would decline hosting the 1992 International AIDS Conference in Boston because of travel restrictions imposed on those infected with HIV.

According to Institute officials at the time, the conference was held in Amsterdam because of "continuing uncertainty" over U.S. policy towards those infected with HIV.

Harvard student political groups had different opinions on the issue of discriminatory immigration policies.

Karen E. Boyle '94, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club, said she agreed with the vote, but added that her opinion does not reflect that of all Republicans in the College.

"This sort of issue transcends partisan parties," Boyle said.

But Harvard's Democrats disagreed. Former President of the College Democrats David C. Bunker '93 said the decision was "justifying bigotry by legislation" and that the government was "wasting time" debating the issue when officials should be addressing the economy