Overview
- A Nov. 6 cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U.S. embassies and consulates to consider obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and respiratory, neurological and mental illnesses when deciding visas.
- Consular officers were directed to weigh additional factors including whether an applicant is beyond retirement age, the number of dependents, and disabilities affecting the applicant or family members.
- Reporting indicates the guidance will cover immigrant applicants seeking permanent residence and possibly some other visa categories, with operational details and timelines not yet public.
- The directive cites potential treatment costs reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars as grounds for determining an applicant could become a public burden.
- The White House defended the policy as consistent with longstanding authority to refuse applicants who would impose economic costs, according to the Washington Post’s Nov. 13 report.