The Donald Trump administration has ordered the State Department to deny visas to foreigners for reasons including age and suffering from diseases such as diabetes and obesity. According to Washington, these applicants have a high probability of becoming a “public charge” due to their health problems. In recent months, plans to discourage more foreigners from coming to the country include paying taxes of up to $15,000 for travelers from certain countries, a $100,000 tax for workers on H-1B visas, and denying procedures for detecting “anti-American views,” among others.
The new guidelines will be implemented starting in January 2026 and were published in a cable that the Farnesina sent to officials at embassies and consulates around the world in early November. This requires “taking into account the immigrant’s health and certain medical conditions – including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes, metabolic disease, neurological disease and mental disorders – which may require medical care worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Immigrants who apply for a visa to live permanently in the United States have been required to undergo a medical examination by a government-approved health professional for years. Everyone is tested for contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis, and asked to fill out a form in which they must declare a history of drug or alcohol use, mental health problems or violence. They must also specify whether they have vaccines to protect against infectious diseases such as measles, polio and hepatitis B.
The recent order not only significantly expands the list of medical conditions to be considered, but gives immigration officials greater power to accept or deny visas, based solely on aliens’ health status and their financial ability to afford medical treatment without state assistance. “Does the applicant have sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of such care throughout his or her life expectancy, without resorting to public cash assistance or prolonged institutionalization at Government expense?” reads the cable.
Officials will draw their own conclusions about what could lead to some type of medical emergency or health care expenses in the future. In this sense, a report KFF Health News says Washington’s initiative contradicts the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual, which says staff cannot reject a request based on hypothetical scenarios. Charles Wheeler, senior attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), warns in the same document that “this is concerning because these staff have no medical training, lack experience in this area, and should not be making projections based on their own personal knowledge or bias.”
The provision also provides that the health of the applicant’s family members, including children or elderly parents, must be taken into consideration. “Do any of the dependents have disabilities, chronic illnesses, or other special needs that require attention and that prevent the visa holder from holding a job?” is another of the questions the Trump administration wants to be asked during the trial.
Another point of contention is that both visa officials and doctors who examine people seeking to immigrate may speculate on the cost of medical treatment for applicants’ illnesses and their ability to get a job in the United States that allows them to pay for health insurance to cover any health care.
Approximately 10% of the world’s population suffers from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. In this context, Washington’s measure will block the arrival of further immigrants in the country.
