The massive outbreak of Coronavirus in North American territory

The health crisis we are currently facing happened so suddenly that countries around the world had to adopt emergency measures to protect the health of the population.

Since the massive outbreak of Coronavirus in the US, healthcare providers have been the frontline in the battle against the pandemic and have put their own health at risk to save as many lives as possible.

In fact, dozens of doctors and nurses have passed away in the past few months in the US while working in Intensive Care Units for people infected with COVID-19.

Thousands of healthcare workers are specialized foreigners who legally reside in the country using a work permit issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

The future of health providers is uncertain

Hundreds of foreign health workers fear of deportation during the health crisis.

It is well known that if a person has flu-like symptoms or tests positive on the Coronavirus exam, (s)he must remain in mandatory isolation (quarantine) for at least 15 days.

This means that even if a doctor or nurse is asymptomatic but the test results are positive for Coronavirus, (s)he must be isolated to avoid infecting other people, especially other patients.

Specialized work Visas have certain specific requirements that must be met to avoid possible deportation.

For instance, one of the main requirements is that the foreigner must be actively working during the time residing in the US.

If the foreign worker does not work for a considerable period of time, (s)he must leave the US to avoid accumulation of “Unlawful Presence”.

On top of that, work permits are temporary, and if skilled workers do not renew their permit on time, they must leave the US.

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What is the impact of losing foreign health workers?

The foreign doctors and nurses who are currently helping to overcome the health crisis are essential.

Let’s look at some of the latest official figures released by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA):

• 30% of physicians currently working in the US are foreign.
• 17% of registered nurses currently working in the US are foreigners.
• For the pharmaceutical industry, approximately 20% of workers are foreigners.
• 23% of home health providers and nursing assistants are immigrants as well.

Thus, the most important members in the battle against the Coronavirus are at risk and it is imperative for the US government to offer a viable solution for the heroes of our time.

A possible solution

Several activists communities, immigrant rights advocates, and senators around the country are calling on the government to grant Green Cards or permanent legal residence to healthcare workers who fear deportation.

It is in the country’s interest that healthcare workers be legal residents as hundreds of them are part of the research sector, which means that they are constantly trying to find a cure for the nouvelle Coronavirus.

The current administration of the US has yet to give an official response about the benefits it will offer to health workers during the current crisis.

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