Trump orders obese people to be denied US visas
This is the latest move by President Donald Trump to turn away foreigners as part of his sweeping crackdown on migration.
The United States is considering denying visas to obese and diabetic people, as well as children with special needs.
This is the latest move by President Donald Trump to turn away foreigners as part of his sweeping crackdown on migration.
In a cable sent earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio asked US embassies around the world to factor in health conditions when issuing long-term visas, as reported by various US media outlets.
In the memo, first reported by KFF Health News, Rubio says being obese, diabetic, or having disabilities could "require expensive, long-term care," potentially becoming a burden on public funds.
The new rules primarily target people outside the US or those seeking to renew their visas.
However, some experts warn that the guidelines could also affect family members of people already living in the US who would like to come to visit or live with them.
According to WHO, in 2022, more than 1 billion people in the world were living with obesity, tied to factors including diet and lack of exercise. The US is already one of the most obese countries in the world, with around 40% of its population living with obesity.
The latest rules also include denying or cancelling visas for people opposing US foreign policy, including for statements against Israel, which is waging a genocidal war against Palestinians.
It’s not yet clear when the new policy will come into effect. The Trump administration has been desperate to block migrants from entering the US, as well as embarking on deportations, including to Africa.
It has imposed visa bans or stringent rules on several African countries.