Trump Says U.S. Visas Can Be Denied to Fat People from Now On
15 days ago
- #US Visa Policy
- #Immigration
- #Healthcare
- Trump administration directs visa officers to deny visas to obese individuals and those with certain health conditions.
- New State Department guidance cites potential high healthcare costs as the reason for visa denials.
- Health conditions listed include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and mental health issues, among others.
- Obesity is specifically mentioned due to associated health risks like asthma and high blood pressure.
- Critics argue the policy is overly broad, cruel, and unusual.
- Visa applicants already undergo health screenings for infectious diseases like tuberculosis.
- Immigration lawyer Sophia Genovese expresses concerns over the expansive nature of the new health assessments.
- Policy announcement follows Trump's deal to lower the cost of weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Zepbound.
- Trump publicly mentions White House comms staffer Steven Cheung as taking weight-loss medication.