President Donald Trump’s administration’s proposal to deny visas to obese and diabetic immigrants is more than just bad policy; it is discriminatory and outright wrong.
Obesity and diabetes are among the most widespread health conditions in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 40% of American adults are obese. By painting migrants, and not citizens, as undesirable due to their health condition, a double standard is created. In reality, immigrants use far fewer healthcare resources than U.S.-born citizens, meaning they are not the financial drain that anti-immigrant rhetoric often claim
Immigrants are not a financial drain on the U.S. healthcare system; they often use it less than native-born citizens. Immigrants contribute more in taxes, as they paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes., than the value of public benefits they receive, including healthcare. The idea that immigrants with medical conditions will bankrupt the system is simply not supported by evidence.
Trump’s proposal echoes a broader pattern within the administration aimed at restricting immigration through indirect means. The Public Charge rule, for example, targeted low-income immigrants and discouraged the use of essential benefits like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The rule had a chilling effect on immigrant families seeking healthcare, even when legally eligible. Policies like these do not protect taxpayers; they weaponize public health to exclude the vulnerable.
There is a stereotype that the U.S. has some of the highest obesity and diabetes rates in the developed world. If these conditions are national health crises, the solution should be improving access to care, not banning people who live with the conditions. Public health experts agree that obesity and diabetes require long-term treatment and support, not punishment or exclusion.
Using medical diagnosis to decide who deserves a chance at the American dream is a dangerous precedent. This proposal sends a disturbing message that BMI and blood sugar levels measure human worth, rather than compassion, contribution or character.
A nation built on opportunity should not shrink access to only the perfectly healthy. Immigration policy should reflect dignity, fairness and humanity, not discrimination disguised as beneficial public policy.