If I wanted to go to USA as a tourist before I would have needed a VISA. It asks very specific questions and I would have been denied one because of MI. Things have changed a little so we no longer need a VISA just to go as a tourist which lightened things up a bit, you don't have to provide as much info and you will just be denied to come as a tourist if your MI might be a threat to others or property.

When I tell this people go "No way, everyone was always allowed to come visit the land of the free, unless you are a criminal!"

Yea, right.