Overweight immigrants are no longer welcome in the United States. Nor people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, cancers, diabetes, metabolic pathologies, mental or neurological disorders. A State Department directive now requires US embassies to assess the physical condition and financial resources of visa applicants, reports the Figaro.
The Trump administration wants to save money, fearing that these future residents will apply for social benefits financed by American taxpayers. Also, they must have sufficient means to finance their care, otherwise… no visa. Certain chronic illnesses can cause “hundreds of thousands of dollars”, argues the directive, which is part of a series of measures aimed at restricting the criteria allowing foreigners to disembark on American soil.
Thousands of visas already revoked
Drastic increase in fees for H-1B visas for foreign skilled workers, now charged up to $100,000 per year, creation of a “gold card” reserved for investors and patrons able to make generous donations… Immigration, from Donald Trump’s point of view, must be chosen. Beyond health, ideas are also subject to certain criteria. Since returning to power, the State Department has revoked tens of thousands of visas of people in the United States, including for views deemed anti-American.
As for refugees, Washington only plans to admit 7,500 this year, compared to about 100,000 under the Biden administration. Unprecedented choice: the majority of these refugees will come from South Africa, and more precisely from the Afrikaner community, white and from the first European settlers, the American authorities announced at the end of October.
