U.S. immigration policies significantly limit the ability of these doctors to immigrate to and practice in the United States. As policy-makers debate what immigration reforms would best serve the national interest, they should keep in mind that foreign-trained doctors are already taking the lead on providing care to many communities across the United States.

The Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act (RAISE Act) or S. 354 would mark a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. immigration system. It would significantly reduce levels of legal immigration to the United States.

A recent report by sociologist Jacqueline Hagan sheds a new light on the often unappreciated value of the skills possessed by immigrant workers in some of these occupations. Specifically, she makes the case that skills encompass way more than just formal education. These findings take an especially important value in the current political context, characterized by misinformation, scapegoating, and an intentional demonization of immigrants.

Hundreds of thousands of potentially eligible individuals have not yet applied.