Oakton Health Center

1. In West Virginia, a doctor referred to as “Ali” for his protection, has become an integral part of the local community, treating more than 1,600 patients in 2021 alone. More than 80% of these patients are on Medicare or Medicaid, highlighting the vital role immigrants play in the US healthcare system. However, Ali’s future in America is uncertain due to the strict immigration policies implemented by the Trump administration.

Despite being in the country on a visa and having applied for a green card, Ali could lose his job due to bans and restrictions that have stalled green card applications. Without a renewal of his visa status or the approval of his green card this fall, he stands to lose his job, putting his patients’ healthcare at risk.

These immigration policies are straining the healthcare system, with about one in six hospital workers directly involved in patient care being immigrants. In West Virginia, rural communities heavily rely on foreign-born doctors for their healthcare needs. The USCIS pause, among other policies, is making it increasingly difficult for immigrants to legally stay in the country, further endangering the US healthcare system.

2. A USCIS policy freeze on processing visas from over three dozen countries jeopardized the careers of residents, medical students, and physicians, and the access to care for communities. Although the policy was later amended to exempt physicians, it has not resulted in significant action leaving many foreign-trained doctors uncertain about their future.

If visa delays continue, patient healthcare, wait times, and the entire health system could be heavily impacted as foreign-born physicians predominantly serve communities struggling with severe physician shortages. Delayed visa processes might soon cause a crisis for physicians whose residencies begin on July 1.

3. The Trump administration’s decision to stop reviewing visa and green card applications for individuals from countries deemed high-risk has impacted physicians and professionals across different sectors. As the administration has excluded physicians from the freeze, the effects of the decision remain unclear. There are concerns around the ability of Immigration Services to process applications by critical immigration deadlines.

This decision has left numerous professionals, who hail from the 39 affected countries, in a state of limbo. These individuals, now unable to work, secure health insurance, or drive, find themselves with uncertain futures. Several individuals have taken legal action against the government to seek answers to their pending cases. While some lament the possibility of leaving the United States, many fear for their safety upon returning to their home countries amid ongoing conflict.

Therefore, the immigration policies enacted during the Trump administration and the obstacles it poses, has placed significant strain on the US healthcare system, by limiting the number of foreign-trained professionals who serve in communities critically in need of healthcare services.

1. Young Joo Ko, a green card holder, has been arrested in Los Angeles over allegations of immigration fraud and fraudulent medical forms associated with the green card application process. The 59-year-old woman is accused of presenting herself as a nurse or doctor and falsely indicating on forms that green card applicants had completed required medical examinations. The Trump administration has been heavily focused on cracking down on immigration-related fraud, increasing enforcement to target fraudulent schemes. The case against Ko is currently being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

2. A U.S. District Court has signaled limitations on the USCIS’s ability to indefinitely hold immigration applications. The ruling came in response to a case involving an Iranian physician living in Virginia who had her employment authorization application stalled due to a USCIS policy suspending adjudication of immigration benefit requests from individuals from 39 countries including Iran. Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered USCIS to process the physician’s application within seven days, concluding that the suspension of applications was likely arbitrary and without proper justification.

3. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) has voiced concern over reports that USCIS has directed a sweeping review and potential reinterview of more than 200,000 refugees admitted to the U.S. between January 2021 and February 2025. According to USCRI, such a review is unwarranted and unprecedented, and has resulted in widespread fear and uncertainty in refugee communities. USCRI calls on the US administration to reverse the policy and reaffirm the country’s commitment to a strong humanitarian refugee program.

4. USCIS has updated its policy with regards to assessing the “good moral character” of individuals during the adjudication of naturalization applications, heightening scrutiny around a principle aspect of conferring citizenship. This involves a more comprehensive assessment into an applicant’s behavior, adherence to societal norms, and positive contributions to society beyond simply a review of any criminal activity. The updated approach to assess “good moral character” has sparked questions and concerns around its potential subjectivity and the inconsistency it might bring to the adjudication process in the future.