The United States will block the entry of immigrants who do not possess health insurance or are unable to prove that they can 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 signed by President Trump.
“Lawful immigrants are about three times more likely than United States citizens to lack health insurance,” the US President 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.
President Trump made cracking down on immigration a key part of his 2016 presidential campaign.
He has pushed wide-ranging immigration law reforms while tasking authorities with carrying out mass deportations of people in the US illegally.
