"RFK Jr. can't get to work fast enough" — Internet reacts to Riley Gaines' husband not having green card because he won't get the vaccine

American political activist Riley Gaines took to X on November 19 and shared that her husband still does not have a green card in the United States. She said that this was because he did not get the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to US immigration law, those applying for a green card must meet certain vaccination requirements to get the card. However, illegal immigrants are not subjected to the same rules unless they apply for a visa or citizenship in the United States.

Riley Gaines, a former college swimmer and political activist, took to X to reveal that her husband, Louis Barker, has not been granted a green card yet.

"My husband moved to America from England for college 6 years ago. We got married over 2.5 years ago. He STILL doesn't have a green card because he won't get the vaccine. They don't force illegal immigrants to get the jab, just the legal ones," she tweeted.

Netizens took to X to react to Riley Gaines' post and shared their views.

"RFK Jr. can't get to work fast enough. This stupid requirement should be one of the first things to go," one X user wrote.

"It’s crazy how difficult immigrating to this country legally is but if you break the law you’re given drivers licenses, money, and housing," a user opined.

"They are still making people get jabbed? That's absolutely insane!," another netizen added.

"That is unreal! End the mandates!," another individual mentioned.

Some other users shared their thoughts on the matter:

"That seems crazy. Citizenship and vaccinations shouldn't go hand and hand," a person commented.

"That needs to change," a fan wrote.

"This is horrible," a user chimed in.

The US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) states that any noncitizen applying for lawful permanent residency or an abroad visa in the US mandatorily has to get certain vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.

They are also supposed to take vaccines for diseases like mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus, hepatitis B, and other "vaccine-preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices." If one is not vaccinated for the recommended diseases, their appeal for permanent citizenship may be denied.

---

Riley Gaines' husband, Louis Barker, moved to the United States from the UK to attend university

Celebrities Visit SiriusXM - May 20, 2024 (Image via Getty)

Riley Gaines is married to former English collegiate swimmer Louis Barker. Originally hailing from Crawley, England, Barker moved to the United States to pursue a university education. He enrolled at the University of Kentucky in 2018 and graduated with a degree in business management in 2022.

Barker and Gaines met at university in 2019. At that time, Riley Gaines was pursuing a degree in health sciences. Both were also swimmers in college. Gaines made it to the All-SEC Second Team in 2019 and 2020 and the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2019.

Riley Gaines and Louis Barker reportedly dated for two years, from 2019 to 2021. Barker proposed to Gaines in December 2021, and the two tied the knot in May 2022. The couple do not share any children so far.

Riley Gaines has often been in the news for her political activism. She is one of the activists who hold a strong stance against the participation of transgender women in women's sports. She supported President-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential elections and spoke at the Republican National Convention.

As shared by Riley Gaines on social media, Louis Barker is yet to receive a green card for US citizenship despite being in the country for six years. However, laws related to vaccination are reportedly different for US-bound refugees.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US-bound refugees are not required to take "vaccinations before arrival in the United States." However, they receive vaccinations via the Vaccination Program for U.S.-Bound Refugees.

USCIS also offers waivers to those "opposed to all vaccinations in any form" if they have religious or moral reasons for their reservations.