Clinical Report: How Many US Clinicians Come From Banned Countries?
Overview
A study found that 23,745 physicians and 56,332 nurses in the US workforce in 2023 originated from 19 countries affected by a December 2025 immigration ban.
Background
The immigration ban on 19 countries raises concerns about the availability of healthcare professionals in the United States. Physicians and nurses from these nations contribute significantly to the US healthcare workforce.
Data Highlights
| Year | Physician Inflow | Nurse Inflow |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 350 | 189 |
| 2022 | - | 368 |
| 2023 | 459 | - |
Key Findings
- In 2023, physicians from banned countries accounted for 23,745 of approximately 1.1 million US physicians.
- Nurses from banned countries made up 56,332 of nearly 4 million US nurses in 2023.
- Counties with at least one physician from a banned country had 2.4 times the odds of being designated a primary care Health Professional Shortage Area.
- Counties with at least one nurse from a banned country had 1.7 times the odds of being designated a primary care Health Professional Shortage Area.
- Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba were the top contributors of emigrating physicians, while Cuba, Haiti, and Iran contributed the most nurses.
- The study could not determine immigration status or whether all clinicians practiced clinically in the US.
Clinical Implications
The findings indicate that the immigration ban could exacerbate existing healthcare workforce shortages, particularly in underserved areas. Understanding the demographics of clinicians from banned countries may help inform policy discussions regarding healthcare access.
Conclusion
The study underscores the potential negative impact of the immigration ban on the US healthcare workforce and access to care in underserved communities.
Related Resources & Content
- Ramesh T., et al., JAMA Network Open, 2023 -- How Many US Clinicians Come From Banned Countries?
- conexiant — Surgeon Licensure Gains Support, Trust Lags
- Stat News — Immigration changes are driving foreign researchers to leave the U.S. — or not come to begin with
- South Africa's Role in Surgical Migration and Training: A Center for Global Surgical Workforce Development
- Immigration Ban and the US Health Care Workforce
- Trump administration halts immigration applications for migrants from 19 travel-ban nations
- WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel amended
This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.
