Donald Trump’s administration has introduced new rules that allow American consulates to deny visas to foreigners due to obesity and other chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or mental health issues.

The Washington Post reports this, citing an internal State Department document.

The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on November 6, states that these conditions can require “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in medical care, and visa officers should consider the risk of financial burden on the US healthcare system. The document even specifically mentions obesity and its related consequences, such as hypertension, sleep apnea, and depression.

According to sources in the State Department, the instruction was prepared by the political leadership of the department, and it did not go through the standard process of approval by professional diplomats. Immigration lawyers warn that the new rules give consular officers extremely broad discretion to deny visas for common and non-communicable diseases that were not previously considered grounds for inadmissibility

The White House said that the State Department has had the right to deny visas to those who could become a financial burden to the country for a century, and the new guidance only “fully implements” this policy and “puts Americans first.”

The document also expands other criteria for denial: the applicant’s age after retirement, the number of dependents, and whether they have a disability or “special needs.” The guidelines are issued under the so-called “public burden” rule, which allows denying those who may potentially need public assistance.

As a reminder, the United States is preparing to deport a group of Ukrainian citizens accused of violating American law. The list includes those who left for the United States during the Soviet era.

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