The White House on Friday issued a proclamation that would halt migrant entry into the U.S. if the person is pursuing a visa and “will financially burden the United States healthcare system.”
Migrants will be considered people who will burden the system if they are not covered by approved health insurance within 30 days of entering the country unless they have enough money to “pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs.”{mosads}
It does not affect people already holding a valid immigrant visa and does not affect migrants entering the U.S. through other ways including lawful permanent residents. The change also includes exceptions for people seeking certain types of visas including visas for children of U.S. citizens.
People affected by the change would be required to prove that they have met its requirements to a consular officer. The secretary of state will create procedures for making such determinations.
The White House said the change will take effect Nov. 3.
The Wall Street Journal reported that refugees or immigrants who have been granted asylum won’t be affected.
“While our healthcare system grapples with the challenges caused by uncompensated care, the United States Government is making the problem worse by admitting thousands of aliens who have not demonstrated any ability to pay for their healthcare costs,” the proclamation said.
The change is the latest effort by the Trump administration to curb both legal and illegal immigration.
It has similarly attempted to tie immigration to welfare through its “public charge” rule which would make a person’s ability to receive a green card dependent on whether or not they used certain public assistance programs. Democrats have sought to block the rule.