Trump Introduces New Visa Rules to Restrict People with Diabetes, Obesity, Others

‎By Emmanuel Kwada 

In a significant escalation of immigration restrictions, the Trump administration has issued new guidelines that could lead to visa rejections for foreign nationals with chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, deeming them potential “public charges” who might burden U.S. resources.

‎The directive, detailed in a State Department cable sent Thursday to American embassies and consulates worldwide, instructs visa officers to scrutinize applicants’ medical histories more rigorously.

Conditions requiring “hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care” – including respiratory, metabolic, neurological, and mental health disorders – must now be factored into decisions on whether an individual is likely to rely on public benefits.

The policy explicitly highlights obesity as a risk factor, noting it can contribute to complications like asthma, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and further strain on healthcare systems.

‎”You must consider an applicant’s health,” the cable states, emphasizing that officers should evaluate whether applicants have “adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over his entire expected lifespan without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalisation at government expense.”

This marks a departure from prior visa medical exams, which primarily focused on communicable diseases, vaccinations, and certain mental health evaluations.

‎The guidance also extends assessments to applicants’ dependents, such as children or elderly parents, to determine if their care needs could impair the primary applicant’s employability or financial stability.

While applicable to all immigrant visas, experts predict the policy will disproportionately impact green card and family-based applications.

‎Charles Wheeler, a senior attorney with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, warned that empowering consular officers – who lack medical training – to make such judgments risks bias and errors.

“It’s concerning to have consular officers make medical judgments despite lacking professional expertise, which could lead to bias or misinterpretation,” Wheeler said.

‎Immigration lawyer Sophia Genovese of Georgetown University echoed these concerns, arguing the policy promotes “speculative assumptions about an applicant’s future healthcare costs and employability based on their medical history.”

Advocacy groups, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), have signaled plans to pursue legal challenges, calling the move a “clear message” to deter immigration.

‎The State Department defended the directive as enforcement of longstanding “public charge” laws, with Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott stating it prioritizes “the interests of the American people” and prevents burdens on taxpayers.

The policy aligns with President Trump’s broader agenda to curb legal and unauthorized migration, including recent executive actions on deportations and refugee caps.

‎With diabetes affecting about 10% of the global population and cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of death worldwide, the guidelines could affect millions of applicants, particularly from regions with high prevalence rates. The changes do not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as tourist or short-term business entries.

‎Immigration attorneys advise applicants to prepare detailed financial affidavits and medical documentation to counter potential denials, as the policy takes effect immediately.