Impact of U.S. Immigration Policy Changes on Healthcare Recruitment
It’s no secret that an immigrant workforce is vital for the U.S. healthcare system. Over the last few decades, thousands of foreign nurses and doctors have filled the massive shortages, mostly caused by an aging population.
Unfortunately, while this method worked for quite a while, there are signs that things will change in 2025. The current administration is looking to introduce new laws and policies that would make it harder for foreign workers to get the necessary documents. This is quite troubling, considering that 16% of the healthcare workforce consists of foreigners.
In this article, we’ll examine the impact of these policies and potential solutions that would help international talent.
Immigrant Healthcare Workers in the U.S.
Although the number of immigrant workers has increased significantly in the last few decades, they have always been integral. Clinics and hospitals have utilized them for the longest time to fill positions that require top-tier professionals. The need for foreign healthcare staff is even more pressing nowadays, as the U.S. population is rapidly aging and there’s a shortage of personnel to fill these positions.
These professionals assume all sorts of roles, including those of physicians, nurses, nurse assistants, and maintenance staff. The number of immigrant medical professionals is rather high in more developed states such as Florida and California, accounting for 20% of the workforce. Furthermore, there are many more foreigners in urban areas than in rural areas.
The Importance of Diversity
Most employers focus on cost-cutting when they employ a foreign labor force. However, there are other benefits businesses experience through this type of relationship. In many ways, international nurses and doctors can enrich your work environment, bringing their experiences and methodologies into the fold.
Having a few foreign-born professionals can improve the patient experience. Many of them speak several languages and can easily connect with people from their home country. This makes patients feel at ease, results in a faster recovery process, and higher satisfaction rates.
Fulfilling the Demand
The data indicate that the U.S. will lack hundreds of thousands of health workers in the next several years. Keep in mind that these numbers were made prior to the new immigration policies, so don’t be surprised if the problem balloons. The lack of highly-skilled medical staff can help fill the following gaps:
- Rural Areas: Unlike the locals, foreigners are more likely to be persuaded to join smaller country clinics.
- Specialty Fields: The great thing about the foreign healthcare workforce is that hospitals can employ based on specific demand. These professionals can fill gaps in psychiatry, geriatrics, and other underserved specialty fields.
- Home Health Agencies: Among other things, foreigners can help tackle the demands of the aging population.
International nurses and doctors can rely on an effective system that would expedite the transition. If you live in a country such as India or the Philippines, all you have to do is contact an international nursing agency and they will help you with the documents and find an employer.
The Impact of New Policies
Starting in January 2025, several immigration policies are expected to impact the worker supply and demand in the healthcare industry:
- Visa Delays: The speed at which visas are processed has significantly increased as of late. A process that was otherwise rather fast now requires from 18 to 24 months to complete.
- Removal of Protection: For the longest time, hospitals and clinics were classified as sensitive locations. As such, enforcement agencies couldn’t raid their premises. This has all now changed, meaning that foreign staff can be literally carried off from work.
- Increased Deportations: Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have made numerous arrests in the last year. According to data from July, more than 100,000 foreign workers have already left the country, many of whom are probably working in the medical industry.
The climate has completely changed in the U.S., so many foreigners are reluctant to work in the country, despite having valid documents. However, while things may seem gloomy right now, there are signs that things will improve.
3 Potential Solutions
It is vital that stakeholders take decisive steps to change the current situation. Some of the best ways things can turn around include:
- Advocacy
The main issue lies in the current regulation, which many perceive as too restrictive. While things will likely change when the new government takes over, it’s vital that NGOs and other organizations of interest raise awareness.
Perhaps their focal point should be restoring locations of protection. In other words, ICE shouldn’t be able to raid hospitals and clinics. The process of onboarding healthcare workers should be restored to normal, ensuring that the U.S. has enough workers to fill major gaps in the market.
- Employer Support
Hospital and clinic owners have much more power than they think. In fact, their direct involvement is the reason why we have so many foreign workers in the market today.
Some of the best ways to balance the process and restore power to workers are by offering sponsorships and legal assistance. Ideally, they should oversee the onboarding of foreign talent from before they even set foot on American soil. They should also work closely with foreign agencies to expedite the entire process.
- Public Awareness
Although the public is generally aware of the impact of policies, given that we see deportations every day, they must also learn about the potential consequences. In other words, things will not change until they realize that the lack of medical staff will affect the patients’ experience.
Each of us can help raise awareness by sharing stories and posting about the importance of foreign medical professionals. We can also promote civil engagement, with an attention to help nurses and doctors who are already living in the U.S.
Changing the Narrative
Despite the issues foreign workers and domestic healthcare providers are facing, the situation will likely change in the near future. As the pressure begins to mount and the lack of staff becomes more obvious, the policies will likely have to revert.
