Trump administration lifts green card hold for foreign doctors but leaves others stranded

The Trump administration has quietly lifted a freeze on green card and visa applications for foreign doctors, including Libyan pulmonologist Dr. Faysal Alghoula, who cares for roughly 1,000 patients in rural Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. The exemption, announced last week, allows doctors with pending applications to proceed, but does not guarantee approval or timely processing.

Alghoula’s current visa expires in September. Without a renewed green card, he risks losing his ability to practice medicine in the U.S. “It is about four to five months wait to get the pulmonologist here,” he said, highlighting the critical shortage of doctors in underserved areas.

Physician groups and immigration attorneys had pushed for the exemption, citing widespread shortages and the reliance on foreign-trained doctors in rural and underserved communities. According to the National Library of Medicine, these doctors disproportionately serve areas with limited access to healthcare.

However, the change offers no certainty. Doctors can now have their cases reviewed, but approval is not guaranteed. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may still struggle to process applications in time to meet deadlines like Alghoula’s. “I’m still scared to go to my interview,” he said, referencing reports of immigrants being detained during renewal appointments. Alghoula has lived in the U.S. since 2016.

Thousands Still Stranded by Visa Freeze

The pause remains in effect for thousands of others, including researchers, entrepreneurs, and families from 39 countries deemed high-risk, such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Venezuela. Those affected cannot legally work, obtain health insurance, or secure a driver’s license. Traveling outside the U.S. risks being denied re-entry.

The Trump administration first halted green card and visa reviews for these countries last year, citing national security concerns. Earlier this year, the administration expanded the freeze to include visa applications for citizens of over 75 countries, citing fears they would seek public assistance. These moves are part of a broader crackdown on immigration.

The freeze followed the shooting of two National Guard troops by an Afghan citizen, which the administration argued demonstrated the dangers of inadequate screening and vetting.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration officials, did not directly address questions about the pause or recent changes for doctors. In an emailed statement, it emphasized the need for proper screening, stating that the prior administration had failed to do so adequately.

“There are lots of bans and lots of pauses that are happening right now. It is all about making life miserable for people who are here legally so they will choose other countries.” — Greg Siskind, immigration attorney based in Memphis, Tennessee

It remains unclear how many doctors were directly impacted by the pause or how many will benefit from the exemption. For now, Alghoula and others in similar situations face an uncertain future, balancing professional obligations with the threat of deportation.