The Trump administration has directed visa officers to consider obesity – and other chronic health conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes – as reasons to deny foreigners visas to the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told U.S. consulates and embassies around the world about the changes in a Nov. 6 cable, according to a copy obtained and verified by The Washington Post. The move broadens current medical screening beyond contagious diseases and gives visa officers new justification to reject applicants, in the Trump administration’s latest effort to curb the flow of immigration.

“You must consider an applicant’s health,” said the State Department cable, which was reported earlier by KFF Health News. “Certain medical conditions – including, but not limited to, car

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