Medical Groups Back Legislation that would Exempt Healthcare Workers from $100,000 H-1B Filing Fee

On March 17, 2026, bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Representatives Mike Lawyer (R-NY), Sanford Bishop Jr. (D-GA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) to exempt physicians and other healthcare workers from the Trump Administration’s $100,000 H-1B filing fee.

The bill, presently called the “H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act,” proposes that the $100,000 H-1B filing fee shall not apply to any H-1B worker who is employed in the healthcare sector. The proposed fee exemption would broadly cover healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, dentists, certified nurse midwives, psychologists, ambulance workers, and public health professionals as defined by Affordable Care Act.

The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Hospital Association (AHA)—among other medical organizations—have endorsed this legislation. 

In its recent press release applauding the bill, the AMA wrote that the $100,000 H-1B filing fee raises hiring costs, which in turn worsens physician shortages, increases wait times, and reduces access care. The bill therefore aligns with AMA’s mission to build and maintain a strong healthcare workforce to serve all patient needs.

Similarly, AHA Executive VP Stacey Hughes expressed support for the bill, stating that it would maintain patient access to care by sustaining critical healthcare staffing in shortage areas.

Immigrant Visa Appointments Affected as U.S. Embassies Curtail Operations in the Middle East

U.S. embassies and consulates across the Middle East have suspended routine operations amid ongoing strikes and retaliatory activity.

As a result, immigrant visa processing has been disrupted, with many posts cancelling scheduled interviews and limiting consular access indefinitely.

 

U.S. Embassies and Consulates Affected

 

Based on current reporting by AP News, NBC News, and Newsweek, immigrant visa services have been impacted at the following U.S. embassies and consulates:

• U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, UAE
• U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan
• U.S. Consulate General Karachi, Pakistan
• U.S. Consulate General Lahore, Pakistan
• U.S. Embassy Amman, Jordan
• U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon
• U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq
• U.S. Consulate General Erbil, Iraq
• U.S. Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait

Additional posts across the region may also be operating with minimal staffing or suspended visa services, and conditions remain fluid.

 

Cancelled immigrant visa appointments do not constitute visa refusals, but applicants should anticipate delays once posts begin reopening, including possible reprioritization of cases.

 

Applicants with pending or cancelled immigrant visa appointments should:

• Rely only on official embassy communications for post‑specific guidance
• Monitor the website of the specific U.S. embassy or consulate handling their case
• Prepare for processing delays once services resume

If you have questions about your upcoming embassy appointment, please contact your MU attorney.

US Healthcare Industry Continues to Push for Exemptions to $100,000 H-1B Fee

In September 2025, President Trump instituted a prohibitive $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. While lawsuits against the fee have been ongoing, the fee currently remains in effect. Hospitals, medical schools, and other healthcare companies have continued their calls for an exemption from the fee for international healthcare professionals who are essential to the US healthcare system.

In a recent article, the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) raised concerns about how the fee is already affecting major staffing decisions for US hospitals approaching national Match Day with graduating medical students on March 20, 2026.

AAMC reports that in a fall survey by the Greater New York Hospital Association (representing 260 hospitals across NY, NJ, CT, and RI), 25% of hospitals said they had paused, deferred, or limited recruitment of physicians requiring H‑1B visas. Those hospitals currently employ 1,100 H‑1B medical residents and 800 H‑1B attending physicians, highlighting the scale of potential disruption.

Importantly, AAMC emphasizes that visa‑holding physicians do not displace U.S. graduates; in fact, 97.8% of U.S. MD seniors matched into residency positions in 2025.

International medical graduates make up about 25% of all practicing U.S. physicians. In fiscal year 2024 alone, approximately 11,000 new H‑1B visas were approved for physicians, who disproportionately practice in rural and high‑poverty counties and are more likely to work in primary care.

AAMC has cosigned multiple letters, joining medical organizations, institutions of higher education, and health professions education groups, in requesting that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) exempt these groups from the fee. AAMC also sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in December 2025, warning that the proclamation will worsen the nation’s existing workforce shortage, further strain the health care workforce, and ultimately jeopardize patient access to care.

USCIS Places Hold on Benefit Applications related to Travel Ban

On January 1, 2026, USCIS issued a Policy Memorandum announcing an adjudicative hold on all pending benefit applications filed by individuals from the “high-risk countries” listed in Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998 (Trump's Travel Ban).

Last month, USCIS abruptly enacted the adjudicative hold, as discussed by MU in December 2025, but that hold has now been made official USCIS policy.

 

USCIS’s adjudicative hold applies to cases filed by individuals who list a country from the Travel Ban as either their country of birth or country of citizenship. USCIS does not specifically list the form types affected by the hold, nor how long the hold will be in effect.

 

Furthermore, USCIS will re-review approved benefit requests such as Green Cards for individuals from Travel Ban countries. This may include interviews or re-interviews to reassess Green Card eligibility.

 

Are there any exceptions?

 

The following case types are exempt from USCIS’s adjudicative hold:

• Green card replacements (Form I-90);
• Replacement naturalization/citizenship documents (Forms N-565, N-600);
• Certain work permit categories (Form I-765);
• Benefit requests filed by professional athletes—including coaches and relatives—for the purpose of attending the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event; and
• Case types that would serve a U.S. national interest.

If you have specific questions or concerns about this Policy Memorandum, do not hesitate to reach out to your MU attorney.

DOS Freezes Visa Issuance to Nationals of 75 Countries

On January 14, 2026, the Department of State announced a visa freeze for nationals of 75 countries.

The pause applies only to consular Green Card issuances. This means it does not affect temporary visas issued abroad or Changes of Status or Adjustments of Status filed within the US.

Dual nationals who have citizenship in at least one non-paused country are exempt from the pause.

 

Pursuant to its pause, effective January 21, 2026, DOS will not issue immigrant visas to applicants who are nationals of the following countries:

 

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen

 

DOS asserts the pause is required to ensure that immigrants from the affected countries do not become public charges in the US.

 

The DOS visa freeze is being enacted in addition to several other policies already in effect to restrict immigration, including the Travel Ban and USCIS's own Travel Ban restrictions.

 

If you are filing benefit requests as a national of one of the countries above, consult with your MU attorney to discuss your best strategies for filing.

WEBINAR: H-1B Visa Updates

MU will be hosting a FREE webinar on Tuesday, January 13th at 2PM Eastern for our friends and clients.  Please join us! 

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about:

• H-1B $100k Payment Litigation Updates
• H-1B Cap Weighted Lottery

Please join us!

Trump Expands Travel Ban to 39 Countries

On December 16, 2025, President Trump announced an expansion of his Travel Ban under Proclamation 10998. Proclamation 10998 amends Proclamation 10949, issued in June 2025, which originally imposed a travel ban on 19 countries.

The December 2025 Travel Ban extends travel restrictions on foreign nationals from 20 additional countries.

The new Travel Ban takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Which countries are affected?

Individuals born in the following countries are prevented from obtaining new visas under the travel ban (countries added to the ban in December 2025 in bold):

• Full travel ban on both temporary visas and immigrant visas (Green Cards):

• Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, nationals holding travel documents from the Palestinian Authority, Laos, and Sierra Leone.

• Partial travel ban on B, F, M, and J temporary visas and immigrant visas (Green Cards):

• Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela, Turkmenistan (Turkmenistan’s ban includes immigrant visas only), Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes. The ban does not apply to:

• existing Green Card holders;
• dual nationals, as long as the individual travels on a passport issued by a country that is not included in the ban;
• athletes, coaches and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event determined by the Secretary of State;
• specific diplomatic visas and visas issued to certain Iranian minorities; and
• other case-by-case determinations that an individual’s visa issuance would serve the US national interest.

If you have specific questions or concerns about how this Proclamation may affect your situation, do not hesitate to reach out to your MU attorney.

USCIS Issues New Travel Ban Restrictions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued several new policies to restrict immigration for individuals born in countries listed in President Trump’s June 2025 Travel Ban.

Currently, the countries listed in the Travel Ban are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. However, the Trump administration has also indicated it intends to add more countries to its Travel Ban list soon.

USCIS has implemented the following policies:

• Pause on Benefit Requests

On December 2, 2025, USCIS issued a Policy Memorandum that pauses decisions on USCIS Benefit Applications filed on behalf of foreign nationals from Travel Ban countries.

USCIS specifically notes it is pausing decision-making on Adjustment of Status (I-485), Green Card Replacement (I-90), Removal of Conditions (I-751), Reentry Permits and Travel Documents (I-131), and Preservation of Residence for Naturalization (N-470), though the memorandum indicates that all form types may be affected.

• “Re-review” of Past Approvals

USCIS also plans to conduct “re-reviews” of approved benefit requests filed on behalf of individuals from the countries above, which could involve re-interviews from USCIS.

• “Negative Factor” Consideration

In adjudicating discretionary benefit requests, such as adjustment of status, change of status, or extension of stay requests, USCIS officers will now consider the fact that an individual is a national of one of these 19 Travel Ban countries as a “significant negative factor.” This is based on a separate Policy Alert issued by USCIS on November 27, 2025.

 

If you are filing benefit requests as a national of one of the 19 Travel Ban countries, consult with your MU attorney to discuss your best strategies for filing.

American Hospital Association Urges Trump to Exempt Health Care Personnel from $100,000 H 1B Fee

Recently, the American Hospital Association (“AHA”) voiced its support for an exemption from the $100,000 H-1B fee for health care workers.

 

In its letter, AHA urges the federal government to exempt health care personnel from the $100,000 H‑1B visa fee established by President Trump’s September 2025 proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” (MU’s blog on the fee is available here) arguing that the fee threatens hospitals’ ability to recruit and retain qualified foreign‑trained professionals.

 

Health care systems across the United States continue to grapple with profound clinician and nurse shortages that are projected to deepen significantly in the years ahead. 

 

The H-1B visa is essential to meeting shortages in health care occupations in the US. In fiscal year 2024 alone, of nearly 400,000 H‑1B petitions approved, 16,937 (4.2 %) were for medical and health occupations, including physicians, surgeons, and registered nurses.

 

AHA also articulated its strong support for the bipartisan Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (discussed by MU here). These combined measures represent a coherent strategy to preserve and expand the U.S. health care workforce. Ensuring exemption from the fee is not only a regulatory measure—it is a critical component of maintaining continuous and equitable access to health services across communities nationwide.

DOL’s FLAG Resumes Wage Request Processing for Immigration Applications

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced on October 31, 2025 that it has resumed its processing of immigration-related requests for prevailing wages, labor certification determinations, and other wage applications via its online filing system, FLAG.

As discussed in an MU blog last month, the government shutdown has shuttered the DOL’s FLAG operations since October 1, 2025, when the website was made completely unavailable.

Although the government shutdown is ongoing, the DOL’s resumption of its processing is welcome news for employers and immigrants who have been ineligible to file certain cases without requisite DOL wage determinations.

DOL did not clarify whether FLAG will resume processing indefinitely throughout the remainder of the government shutdown. However, optimistically, in its announcement, DOL notes that it “is taking all steps necessary to resume application processing” and is “transition[ing] back to full operational status”.

President Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Fee: Lawsuit and New Guidance

On Thursday, October 16, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee. MU posted its first blog on the $100,000 fee detailing the fee’s application last month.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business association and advocacy organization, brings this suit under claims that the fee exceeds the President’s authority and violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

The lawsuit cites several studies and articles attesting that the H-1B program benefits the U.S. economy and is vital in addressing the U.S. labor shortage crisis. It also includes statements from businesses and investors regarding the devastating effects the proclamation will have on American businesses.

On Monday, October 20, USCIS updated its H-1B webpage with new guidance that the $100,000 fee is not required for petitions filed on behalf individuals who are already in the US on valid temporary status (such as an F-1, H-4, J-1, etc.).

The guidance also provided details on the type of case that may qualify for an exception from the fee and finally provided a mechanism for payment of the $100,000 fee.

MU will discuss these updates and more in detail during our free webinar on Tuesday, October 28, at 2PM Eastern. Register to attend!

WEBINAR: H-1B $100,000 Proclamation Updates

MU will be hosting a FREE webinar on Tuesday, October 28th at 2PM Eastern for our friends and clients.  Please join us! 

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about:

• Who is Subject to the $100,000 Payment
•  Exception Criteria
• Litigation Updates

Please join us!

H-1B PROCLAMATION COULD ADD $100,000 FEE TO PETITIONS

Late Friday, September 19, 2025, President Trump issued the Presidential Proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.  The Proclamation creates a $100,000 fee due on each H-1B petition at the time the case is filed, although some exemptions exist.  There was – and continues to be -- widespread confusion about the applicability of the Proclamation to various types of H-1B cases.

Please join our webinar on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 2PM.  We will spend much of the webinar addressing the new Proclamation.  We have been involved with some non-public conversations with Washington DC.  We will share what we are allowed to share during that webinar.

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR

Here’s what we currently know. We will share updates as soon as they are announced:

• The Proclamation is effective Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 12:01AM Eastern Time and is valid for a period of 12 months.
• A fee of $100,000 per H-1B petition will be charged.  Note some reporting said the $100,000 would be assessed annually (totaling $300,000 for a three-year H-1B); that reporting is incorrect, the fee is a one-time $100,000 per H-1B petition. 
• Who the Fee Applies To – New H-1B petitions (both cap-subject and cap-exempt) that are filed with the USCIS after September 20, 2025.  The plain language of the Proclamation indicates the fee applies to all H-1B entries after September 20, 2025, but the Administration issued subsequent guidance on Saturday clarifying the fee will be applied to new H-1B petition filings submitted to the USCIS after September 20, 2025.
• Who is Exempt from the Fee – The fees does not apply to H-1Bs filed before September 20, 2025, including:
• Current H-1B holders who are traveling abroad and re-entering the US;
• Foreign nationals with a current H-1B approval and/or H-1B visa stamp who are entering the US for the first time; and
• H-4 dependents.
• Waiver of the $100,000 fee (National Interest Exemptions) – The USCIS may waive the $100,000 fee if:
• The H-1B employee’s work is in the national interest, and
• Their admission would not pose a threat to U.S. security or welfare.

No specific guidance has been issued yet on how to apply for a national interest exemption, or which industries or companies might qualify. Given the ongoing nursing shortage, RNs and other healthcare workers may have a strong case for this exemption.  IT professionals probably will not have a strong case for the exemption. We expect more details soon. 

• Legal Challenges Expected:
• Lawsuits challenging the Proclamation are likely and may request an emergency block of the Proclamation and the implementation of the fee.

MU will update our clients with additional information as this Proclamation is implemented and challenged in court.  Again, please join us on Tuesday’s webinar for the latest information.

USCIS to Consider “Anti-Americanism” in Certain Immigration Decisions

On August 19, 2025, USCIS issued a policy alert that the agency will review “anti-Americanism” as a  discretionary factor when reviewing certain benefit requests.

“Anti-Americanism” will be reviewed in requests such as employment authorization applications, F visa extension applications and changes of status, requests for National Interest Waivers, and employment-based adjustments of status.

 

USCIS dictates that officers should give “overwhelmingly negative weight” to evidence of an applicant’s support for or promotion of terrorist ideologies, antisemitism, or other conduct USCIS may consider “anti-American”. The agency asserts that such conduct will likely lead to denial of the requested benefit.

 

The policy explicitly allows officers to consider public behavior, including social media activity, as part of this discretionary review, making it important for applicants to be mindful of their digital footprint when applying for immigration benefits.

Department of State to Require In-Person Interviews for Most Visa Applicants

On July 25, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) announced in an Interview Waiver Update  that it will reduce significantly the categories of visas eligible for a waiver of an in-person visa interview.

Effective September 2, 2025, DOS will require all nonimmigrant visa applicants (including E, F, H, J, K, L, M, O, P, and R visa applicants) to appear for in-person interviews with consular officers. In-person interviews will be required for both initial and renewal applications.

DOS will waive the in-person interview requirement for very limited visa types, including certain B visa applicants and some diplomatic, official, and NATO visa applicants.

Previously, the Biden administration allowed visa interview waivers for renewals of all nonimmigrant visas that had expired within the previous 48 months. In February 2025, the Trump administration restricted the rule to allow for waivers only within 12 months of previous visa expiry.

Employers should consider the additional time required for interview scheduling and completion based on this update.

Immigrant Caregivers are Crucial to Staff Direct Care Industry

President Trump’s “immigration crackdown” has elicited a warning from the direct care industry: immigrants are essential.

Although immigrants comprise 17% of the total American labor force, they make up 31% of the home care workforce and 21% of the residential care aide and nursing assistant workforce, according to a 2024 report from Leading Age, an organization representing nonprofit aging services providers.

 

A recent article by USA TODAY highlights the severity and scope of the direct care worker shortage, which is set to reach critical levels as the US faces even higher demand to care for aging Baby Boomers.

 

In 2020, 55.8 million people in the US were 65 and over, according to census data. A study in Health Services Research estimates that number will reach nearly 70 million by 2030.

 

From 2022 to 2037, a National Center for Health Workforce Analysis estimated the demand for home health aides will rise 35%, the demand for personal care aides will rise 38%, and the demand for nursing assistants will rise 41%.

 

Articles by Axios and AP News echo the essentiality of immigrant caregivers in US nursing homes, and warn of the effect President Trump’s immigration policies are already having on nursing home staffing in the US.

 

AP News reports:

 

“The aging of the massive Baby Boom generation is poised to fuel even more demand for caregivers, both in institutional settings and in individuals’ homes. BLS projects more growth among home health and personal care aides than any other job, with some 820,000 new positions added by 2032.”

 

Due to high demand and Department of State backlogs, immigrant nursing aides who qualify for a Green Card are currently waiting more than three years to enter the U.S. after their cases are approved.

 

Because of lengthy backlogs, staffing companies employing nursing assistants and nurse aides are best equipped to withstand immigration delays in their business models; however, meeting the demand for direct caregiving in the US in the coming years will require policies to extend temporary work authorization for direct care workers and policies to alleviate Department of State backlogs for permanent immigration solutions.

SEVIS Report: Record Number of Student Visa Holders in 2024

In June 2025, ICE released its 2024 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) by the Numbers Report. This report includes data on international student enrollment at US educational institutions and work authorization for students employed by US companies.

International students are eligible to study in the US on the F-1 visa. As indicated in the report, most F-1 visa holders at universities major in computer science, information technology, and engineering fields. However, students seeking careers in healthcare may study in associate’s, bachelor’s and even master’s programs in majors like Nursing, Medical Technology, and Physical Therapy.

Both Enrollment and Employment Increased in 2024

Foreign student enrollment in the US increased once again in 2024. Over 1.5 million students held active immigration records at US schools in 2024, a 5.3% increase from 2023.

Work authorization is available to certain F-1 students. SEVIS's report states:

• 381,140 students were authorized to work for US employers in 2024.
• Work authorization participation increased by 21% for students enrolled in Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is one type of work authorization for students. OPT participation has now increased four years in a row.
• Work authorization participation increased 54% for students enrolled in STEM OPT (an extension of OPT for students studying in qualifying STEM degree fields).

In 2024, Amazon was the top employer among all F-1 students with work authorization, with tech giants Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla also among the companies employing the highest numbers of foreign students.

Conclusion

Though scrutiny of student visa issuance has increased as a result of Trump Administration policies in 2025 (as discussed in an MU blog post earlier this year), US universities and employers demonstrated heavy engagement with international students in 2024.

Student visas remain prevalent in the US, and major US employers continue to seek work-authorized foreign student employees. 

Trump’s Travel Ban will Exacerbate Healthcare Workforce Shortages in the US

On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the first travel ban of his second term. The 2025 version of the President’s travel ban restricts visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries.

Specifically, the ban prevents issuance of both temporary visas and permanent Green Cards to nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The ban sets country-specific partial bans on certain visa types for the remaining seven countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The ban does not apply to existing Green Card holders, dual nationals (if the individual travels on a passport issued by a country that is not included in the ban), athletes, coaches and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event, and immediate family immigrants with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA).

The ban will take effect on June 9, 2025, and could impact U.S. employers that rely on global talent, particularly in healthcare and technology, as noted by Boundless Immigration’s blog on the Travel Ban’s negative effect on US employers.

As discussed in an MU blog post earlier this year, immigrants are relied upon extensively in the US healthcare workforce. Citing research analysis by JAMA Network:

• 25% of physicians in the U.S. were born outside of the U.S.
• 17% of the total healthcare workforce, or roughly 3.4 million workers, were born outside the U.S.

The Trump Travel Ban will further restrict visa issuance to foreign-trained healthcare workers who are desperately needed to meet shortages in the US. Current healthcare staffing shortages will be further exacerbated, hospitals will face bottlenecks and healthcare facilities will be unable to meet healthcare needs in the U.S.

Immigration Policy Essential to Ease U.S. Healthcare Staffing Crisis

Legal immigration pathways remain necessary to meet U.S. healthcare staffing needs for positions throughout the industry, including Registered Nurses, physicians, and nursing aides. A recent article from NPR highlights how Trump administration policies limiting legal pathways for nurses and other healthcare workers compromise healthcare throughout American hospitals, nursing homes and the entire healthcare system.

Citing research analysis by JAMA Network, a consortium of peer-reviewed, general medical and specialty publications, NPR emphasizes the prevalence and essentiality of foreign-born workers in the U.S. healthcare system:

• 25% of physicians in the U.S. were born outside of the U.S.
• Nearly 17% of the total healthcare workforce, or roughly 3.4 million workers, were born outside the U.S.
• 1.1 million healthcare workers in the U.S. are noncitizens without permanent residency in the U.S.

The Trump administration has enacted a series of measures and threatened others to end legal protections for millions of U.S. immigrants, creating uncertainty not only for immigrants, but for their employers. The administration has attempted to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for millions of legally authorized workers in the U.S. and has threatened the status of immigrants, including doctors and nurses, brought to the country illegally as children who receive legal protection through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.

Even prior to President Trump’s reelection, staffing shortages in the U.S. healthcare workforce have restricted access to healthcare in the U.S. A 2024 survey from the American Healthcare Association found that nearly half of nursing homes in the U.S. said they’ve had to limit new admissions because of staffing shortages, and the JAMA Network letter reports that shortages of nurses and other personnel caused two-thirds of hospitals to operate below full capacity in 2023.

If Trump administration policies continue to restrict legal immigration pathways, current healthcare staffing shortages will be further exacerbated, hospitals will face bottlenecks and healthcare facilities will be unable to meet healthcare needs in the U.S. Legal immigration pathways for nurses and healthcare workers are an essential tool in providing healthcare in the U.S.

WEBINAR: Immigration under the Trump Administration

The forthcoming Trump Administration’s proposed immigration policies may have significant implications for employers.  Join our  FREE webinar on Wednesday, November 20th at 2pm EST to explore new regulations, compliance strategies, and best practices for adapting to these changes.

Discussion topics will include:

• Overview of the policies attempted and enacted in Trump’s first term

• Potential Administrative Changes to Employment-Based Visa Programs

• Possible legislative initiatives in 2025

• I-9, E-Verify and Compliance Requirements: What employers can do to ensure compliance?

PLEASE JOIN US!