ABC News: Immigrants with health conditions may be denied visas under new Trump administration guidance
The Trump administration has repeatedly said that it is not anti-immigrant but only anti-illegal immigrant. The mass deportation campaign arguably is consistent with that claim, although U.S. citizens of Latina/o ancestry have been caught up in the Latina/o dragnet in Los Angeles, Chicago, and other cities. However, the administration also has sought to limit legal immigration to the United States. For example, refugee admissions for all but white South Africans has been dramatically cut to little more than a trickle.
A KFF Health News story reveals the latest Trump administration limit on legal immigration. Under a new directive, visa applications may now now be rejected if applicants have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity:
"The guidance, issued in a cable the State Department sent to embassy and consular officials . . . , directs visa officers to deem applicants ineligible to enter the U.S. for several new reasons, including age or the likelihood they might rely on public benefits. The guidance says that such people could become a `public charge' — a potential drain on U.S. resources — because of their health issues or age."
The KFF news story reports that experts said the new guidelines greatly expand the disqualifying medical conditions and afford consular officers more power to make decisions about immigration based on the applicant’s health status.
