Several U.S. hospitals are facing shortages of international medical graduates (IMGs) due to President Trump's travel ban and visa restrictions, which hinder foreign doctors from entering or training in the country.

The travel ban restricts citizens from 12 countries and adds restrictions on seven others, complicating the entry process for foreign medical professionals, while delays in issuing J-1 visas further impact IMGs.

IMGs are crucial to the U.S. healthcare system, with 40% of internal medicine residents being foreign-trained, and they play a vital role in serving vulnerable populations, especially in rural and underserved areas.

The U.S. physician shortage is projected to reach 86,000 by 2036, and the absence of IMGs—who often work in underserved regions—could worsen healthcare access, increase wait times, and strain hospitals.

The travel ban may discourage future foreign medical applicants from training in the U.S., potentially reducing workforce diversity and cultural competence amid an increasingly diverse population.

With medical residencies beginning on July 1st, delays and restrictions threaten to postpone training for about 7,000 foreign-born IMGs, who make up nearly 17% of the incoming residency workforce in 2025.

Overall, President Trump's travel restrictions threaten to harm public health, worsen physician shortages, and undermine the healthcare system's ability to serve all Americans effectively.