The health insurance rule for immigrants added another backlash against the President of the U.S, Donald Trump. (Image via NBC News)

U.S judge rejects Trump's health insurance rule for immigrants

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
Regulation
Nov 03, 2019
1189
A district judge in Oregon, United States (U.S), granted a preliminary injunction against a proposal by the President of the U.S, Donald Trump. The proposal by Trump requires all immigrants, wanting to enter the U.S, to prove that they possess health insurance within 30 days of their arrival or enough resources to pay medical care.

The move enraged several U.S citizens. Seven U.S citizens and an NGO filed a lawsuit against the proposal on Wednesday. In the lawsuit, they wrote that the proposal could halt at least two-thirds of the prospective immigrants

Oregon’s district judge, Judge Michael Simon, temporarily halted the proposal in the name of immigrants using a family-sponsored visa who might be unable to enter the country, though having completed all the documents. Judge Simon emphasized that the proposal would result in “irreparable harm”.

The proposal was signed by Trump in October. It only affects the incoming immigrants, not those who already reside in the U.S. Asylum-seekers, refugees, and children are excluded from the proposal.

Trump’s administration is trying to prevent immigrants from taking the public programs for granted and gradually shift the U.S from the family-sponsored immigration system to merit-based.

The latest effort is by proposing the health insurance rule. The U.S president stated that the U.S taxpayers should not be the ones who bear the medical expenses of the immigrants.

The statement, however, was debunked by research from George Washington University, tabulating that less than 1% of immigrants without health insurance used medical care in the U.S. The lawmakers also stated that the immigrants were less likely to use the medical care than the regular U.S citizens.

Since Judge Simon already granted the 28-day preliminary injunction, the proposal, supposedly running into effect by today, is postponed. However, the legal battle is expected to go on.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50278527