Immigrants with health problems may be denied a visa to enter the country, according to new guidance from the Trump administration

Foreigners applying for visas to live in the United States may be denied if they have certain medical conditions, such as obesity or diabetes, according to guidance issued by the Trump administration on Thursday, November 6.

That guidance, included in a cable sent by the State Department to embassy and consular officials — and reviewed by KFF Health News — directs visa officials to declare applicants “ineligible” to enter the United States for new reasons, including age or potential to become dependent on public benefits.

It also says that these people could become a “public burden,” a potential drain on the country’s resources because of their health problems or age.

While assessing the health status of potential immigrants has been part of the visa application process for years — including testing for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and reviewing vaccination history — experts said the new guidelines significantly expand the list of medical conditions that must be taken into account. It gives officials more authority to make immigration decisions based on the health of the applicant.

The directive is part of the Trump administration’s divisive and aggressive campaign to deport people living in the country without papers and discourage others from immigrating.

The government’s offensive to restrict immigration has included daily mass arrests, Prohibition of receiving refugees from some countries It plans to significantly reduce the amount Total immigrants allowed In the country.

The new guidelines require that immigrants’ health be a central issue in the application process.

He explained that although it applies to almost all visa applicants, it is probably used primarily in cases of people who want to reside in the country permanently. Charles Wheelera senior attorney at the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance.

“The health of the applicant must be taken into account,” the cable says. “Some medical conditions — including, but not limited to, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health disorders — may require medical care costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

near 10% of the world’s population Lives with diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases are also common Main cause of death Neville International.

The cable also encourages visa officials to consider other conditions such as obesity, which it notes can cause asthma, sleep apnea and high blood pressure, when assessing whether a person could become a public charge. If this is found to be likely, you may be denied entry into the United States.

“All of these (cases) could require expensive, long-term medical care,” the cable said. State Department spokesmen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Officials must also determine whether applicants have sufficient financial means to cover the cost of medical care without assistance from the U.S. government.

“Does the applicant have sufficient financial resources to cover these expenses throughout his life, without resorting to public financial assistance or without having to be placed in long-term institutions at the expense of the government?” Cable says.

According to Wheeler, the language in the cable appears to conflict with the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual, which indicates that officials cannot deny a request based on hypothetical scenarios.

He said the guidance directs officers to “develop their own opinions about what could lead to a medical emergency or future medical costs.” “This is concerning because they have no medical training, no experience in this field, and should not make predictions based on their personal knowledge or biases.”

The guidance also asks officers to consider the health of the applicant’s family members, including children or elderly parents.

“Do any of the dependents have disabilities, chronic illnesses, or other special needs that require attention to the extent that the applicant is unable to maintain employment?” Says one question on cable.

Currently, immigrants must already undergo a medical examination by a doctor approved by the US Embassy.

They are screened for infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, and are required to do so Fill out the form They report whether they have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, mental health conditions or violent episodes. They must also have a series of vaccinations Against infectious diseases Such as measles, polio, and hepatitis B.

But this new guidance goes further, emphasizing the need to take chronic conditions into account, explained Sophia Genovese, an immigration lawyer at Georgetown University. He also noted that the language of the guidance encourages officials and doctors tasked with examining applicants to second guess the cost of their medical care and their ability to obtain employment in the United States, given their health conditions.

“Given a history of diabetes or heart disease, this is pretty broad,” Genovese said. “There is already some degree of assessment, but it is not so extensive that an opinion can be given, for example, on ‘what happens if someone goes into diabetic shock?’ “If this change is implemented immediately, it will clearly cause a lot of problems when people turn up for consular interviews.”