On November 2, 2019, a federal judge in Portland, Oregon granted a preliminary injunction that prevented a rule established by the Trump administration requiring immigrants to prove they will have health insurance or will have the ability to pay for their medical care before they receive their visas. Seven U.S. citizens and a nonprofit organization filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration’s rule on October 30, 2019.
The lawsuit contended that the new rule would not only block nearly two-thirds of all prospective immigrants, but would also greatly reduce the amount of immigrants who enter the U.S. with family-sponsored visas.
The proclamation of the rule was signed by President Trump in early October. While the rule would not have affected lawful permanent residents, asylees, refugees, or children, it would have applied to foreign nations seeking immigrant visas from abroad. Anyone who could not show that they would be covered by health insurance within 30 days of entering the U.S. or have enough financial resources to pay for any medical costs would have been prevented from entering the U.S.
More information about this topic can be found here. Please do not hesitate to contact our office with any further questions regarding this matter.