Foreigners applying for U.S. immigration visas could be denied entry if they have chronic illnesses such as diabetes or obesity under new guidance the Donald Trump administration issued on Thursday.

According to CBS News, the State Department cable instructs consular officers to consider applicants’ age, health and potential reliance on public benefits when determining visa eligibility, broadening the definition of who might become a “public charge.”

The directive significantly expands existing medical criteria—previously limited to infectious diseases—to include conditions like cardiovascular, metabolic and mental disorders, as well as obesity-related issues such as sleep apnea and hypertension.

Visa officers are also told to weigh whether applicants or their family members can afford treatment without U.S. government assistance, prompting concerns that the policy invites subjective judgments by nonmedical officials.

Legal and health experts warned that the move could bar people with manageable conditions from immigrating, calling it part of Trump’s broader campaign to limit immigration through stricter public charge enforcement.

CBS cited advocates who say the guidance gives visa officers sweeping discretion and could immediately complicate the application process for millions of potential immigrants worldwide.