Trump-Era Immigration Policy Sidelines Foreign Doctors

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A Nigerian doctor who performed knee and hip replacement surgeries at a New York teaching hospital has been sidelined by restrictive immigration policies implemented during the Trump administration, exacerbating an ongoing shortage of medical professionals in the United States.

Why it matters

The U.S. has long relied on foreign-born doctors to fill critical gaps in the healthcare system, especially in underserved rural and urban areas. However, the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration has made it increasingly difficult for international medical graduates to obtain visas and work in the country, worsening staffing shortages at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented strain on the healthcare system.

The details

The Nigerian doctor, who was not named in the article, had been performing essential orthopedic surgeries at a teaching hospital in New York. However, changes to visa policies and increased scrutiny of foreign-born applicants have made it nearly impossible for the doctor to renew their work authorization, forcing them to stop practicing medicine in the U.S.

• The Trump administration implemented restrictive immigration policies starting in 2017.

What’s next

The Biden administration has pledged to review and reverse many of the Trump-era immigration policies, which could potentially allow foreign-born doctors to more easily obtain visas and work in the U.S. healthcare system.