OP 06 October, 2019 - 12:38 AM
President Donald Trump issued a proclamation Friday that will require immigrants to prove they can obtain health insurance before they are issued a visa.
The proclamation — the latest in a series of moves that would restrict immigration — says immigrants must demonstrate they will have health insurance within 30 days of entering the country or that they can afford to cover any medical expenses.
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The White House touted the proclamation as "protecting health care benefits for American citizens," arguing that uninsured immigrants create a financial burden for hospitals and doctors, forcing them to charge higher fees for Americans to cover the cost.
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People who come here shouldn’t immediately be on public assistance," a senior administration official told POLITICO. "We should bring people here who contribute and not drain resources."The move also combines two hot-button political issues — immigration and health care — in the run-up to the 2020 elections. Most Democratic presidential candidates have said they support providing health care to undocumented immigrants. Trump mocked that stance on Twitter while Democrats debated in June.
“All Democrats just raised their hands for giving millions of illegal aliens unlimited healthcare,” he tweeted at the time. “How about taking care of American Citizens first!? That’s the end of that race!”
The presidential proclamation will not affect refugees, asylum seekers or people on temporary visitor visas. The measure will be effective Nov. 3.
NEWS LINK : https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/04...ion-029705
The proclamation — the latest in a series of moves that would restrict immigration — says immigrants must demonstrate they will have health insurance within 30 days of entering the country or that they can afford to cover any medical expenses.
The White House touted the proclamation as "protecting health care benefits for American citizens," arguing that uninsured immigrants create a financial burden for hospitals and doctors, forcing them to charge higher fees for Americans to cover the cost.
Story Continued Below
People who come here shouldn’t immediately be on public assistance," a senior administration official told POLITICO. "We should bring people here who contribute and not drain resources."The move also combines two hot-button political issues — immigration and health care — in the run-up to the 2020 elections. Most Democratic presidential candidates have said they support providing health care to undocumented immigrants. Trump mocked that stance on Twitter while Democrats debated in June.
“All Democrats just raised their hands for giving millions of illegal aliens unlimited healthcare,” he tweeted at the time. “How about taking care of American Citizens first!? That’s the end of that race!”
The presidential proclamation will not affect refugees, asylum seekers or people on temporary visitor visas. The measure will be effective Nov. 3.
NEWS LINK : https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/04...ion-029705
