The president of the United States, Donald Trump, signed on Friday a decree that suspends the entry of immigrants who do not have medical insurance for the 30 days after they enter the country or who do not have the means to pay their health care costs.

“While our health care system faces the challenges caused by unpaid medical care, the United States Government is compounding the problem by admitting thousands of foreigners who have not demonstrated any capacity to pay for their medical expenses,” Trump said on the proclamation.

The proclamation, issued by the White House, will not affect the eligibility of asylum seekers and refugees. This new measure will take effect on November 3.

“Immigrants entering this country should not be a burden to our health system and, consequently, to US taxpayers,” he concluded.

Legal migration, also in the spotlight

In addition to the varied strategies to reduce irregular immigration on the Mexican border, the Trump administration is also focusing on reducing legal migration.

On August 12, the Government presented a regulation that will permit the refusal of permanent residence permits in the United States to legal immigrants that the authorities consider have become a “public charge” for the country.

Under this new regulation, a legal immigrant will be defined as “public charge” if he receives “one or more designated public benefits” for more than 12 months in a 36 month period.

These public benefits include food assistance, housing assistance or programs that subsidize the high cost of medicines.