ASN Alert
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Many of the more than 37 million Americans living with kidney diseases rely on International Medical Graduates (IMGs) for the complex care that only nephrologists can provide. More than one-half of current—and two-thirds of future—nephrologists in the United States are IMGs. The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is deeply concerned about the federal government's recent actions, which is why the society is alerting its IMG members and the rest of the kidney community.
Now and for the foreseeable future, ASN advises non-citizen medical professionals—including permanent residents—postpone any non-essential travel outside the United States.
The federal government is implementing travel bans, changes to the H-1B and other non-immigrant visa programs, and other restrictions. Additionally, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is focusing its activities in ways that ensnare some people who are legally present in the United States.
Non-citizen medical professionals from countries listed in the red column of the potential travel ban restrictions will be unable to leave the United States, and those from countries listed in the orange and yellow columns will face higher scrutiny and may be unable to reenter the United States if they travel abroad.
Potential Travel Ban / Restrictions—As of Tuesday, March 18, 2025
| Red (Citizens barred from entering the United States) | Orange (Citizens face higher scrutiny and mandatory in-person interviews) | Yellow (60 days to address concerns or risk category change) |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Eritrea | Angola |
| Cuba | Haiti | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Iran | Laos | Belarus |
| Libya | Myanmar | Benin |
| North Korea | South Sudan | Bhutan |
| Somalia | Burkina Faso | |
| Sudan | Cabo Verde | |
| Syria | Cambodia | |
| Venezuela | Cameroon | |
| Yemen | Chad | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | ||
| Dominica | ||
| Equatorial Guinea | ||
| Gambia | ||
| Liberia | ||
| Malawi | ||
| Mauritania | ||
| Pakistan | ||
| Republic of the Congo | ||
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | ||
| Saint Lucia | ||
| Sao Tome and Principe | ||
| Sierra Leone | ||
| East Timor | ||
| Turkmenistan | ||
| Vanuatu |
Source: National Law Review, March 18, 2025
If travel outside the United States is unavoidable, non-citizen medical professionals should at a minimum:
- Consult with their employers, their institutional and/or personal legal counsel, and their program's office of international students or whomever oversees visas and immigration compliance before travelling outside the United States.
- Obtain a letter of introduction from their employer stating their legal immigration status and confirming their employment and be prepared to provide copies of paystubs and other supporting evidence.
- Make copies of all immigration documentation and employment contracts and be prepared to present the original documents at your port of entry.
- Be prepared for intensive scrutiny of social media, electronic communications, and the contents of any electronic devices in their possession.
- Designate a contact person(s) who has your itinerary, contact information for your lawyer(s) and family, and is prepared to advocate on your behalf 24/7 during your time outside the United States and potentially during Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.
- Avoid scheduling reentry to the United States outside of regular business hours.
ASN strongly encourages Division Chiefs, Training Program Directors, the leaders of large community-based practices, and other divisional and/or practice administrators to:
- Regularly consult with your institutional/practice legal team and its office of international students to ensure your staff have the most updated information concerning their status, visa proceedings, and advice on whether to travel internationally.
- In conference with your institutional/practice legal team, develop protocols to address:
- A staff member being detained by CBP or denied entry into the United States.
- ICE visits to any medical offices related to staff or a patient, including how to review the warrant and its scope.
- Ensure their non-citizen team members have the support they need during this uncertain and difficult time.
ASN thanks the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology and the Lande Group for their assistance with this alert. The information contained in this alert is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any content included in this alert without seeking legal or other professional advice. The contents of this alert contain general information and may not reflect current legal developments or address your situation. ASN disclaims all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on any content on this alert.