The US will block the entry of immigrants without health insurance or the ability to pay for medical bills, President Donald Trump revealed Friday.
Consular officers will only be allowed to issue visas to prospective immigrants who can prove they "will not impose a substantial burden" on the US health care system, according to a proclamation authored by Trump.
A right step to save the economy of the country Immigrants destroy the nation as we are facing in India https://t.co/g0GXMGB7oc
— KAMAL AGRAWAL (@kamalkanya) October 5, 2019
"Lawful immigrants are about three times more likely than United States citizens to lack health insurance," Trump said in the proclamation.
"Immigrants who enter this country should not further saddle our healthcare system, and subsequently American taxpayers, with higher costs."
The measure will go into effect on November 3.
— Oluwafunke Ishola (@Holuwafunmike4) October 5, 2019
Trump made cracking down on immigration a key part of his 2016 presidential campaign platform.
He has pushed wide-ranging immigration law reforms, while tasking authorities with carrying out mass deportations of people in the US illegally.
Last week Washington also announced plans to dramatically lower its ceiling on a decades-old refugee resettlement program by 40%.
