The American Council of Immigration does not approve or oppose candidates for elected offices. We aim to provide an analysis of the impact of elections on the US immigration system.
As immigration policy continues to be one of the most divisive issues in American politics, the field of bipartisan agreements emerged. IMG is a doctor trained outside the United States. Communities across the country recognize the urgent need to address the shortage of doctors and the already possessed undeveloped, qualified talent that they can bring out.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated many weaknesses in the US healthcare system. Among these is a chronic shortage of qualified doctors. In response, several states have taken emergency measures to ensure that IMG contribute to patient care. Although initially considered temporary suspension solutions, these actions catalyzed change and forced policymakers to take full advantage of community skills and be aware of responsible policies.
Many Congresses now have policies in place to streamline the certification process for internationally trained physicians, allowing their skills to meet our standards and be used in the healthcare systems they desperately need. This growth movement reflects a rare example of bipartisan agreements on immigration issues. Qualified IMGs should be able to contribute to healthcare professionals, benefit patients and enhance medical access.
Since 2020, the state has passed a policy that allows qualified individuals to obtain interim licenses with the option to transition from creating IMG’s clinical preparation program to a full licence, allowing them to develop policies focused on IMG integration and clinical preparation standards.
During the previous 2025 state legislative session, the U.S. Immigration Council has tracked over 20 bills introduced by Republicans and Democrats. The policies include enabling eligible DACA recipients to apply for licenses in New York, removing redundant training requirements in Montana, and creating a physician preparation route and residency grant program in New Mexico. Several other bills provide interim licenses to eligible IMGs with potential routes to full licences (OK HB 2050; AZ SB 1108; KY HB 786; and WY SF 0155).
In recognition of this growing work nationwide, the State Medical Board Federation (FSMB) and the Graduate Medical Education Accreditation Council (ACGME) also published recommendations related to the state licensing laws for internationally trained physicians.
These efforts will lead to concrete changes in access to healthcare. In Washington, which passed its first IMG bill in 2019, the state continues to improve IMG integration, with 40 foreign trained doctors currently practicing in the state. In Minnesota, 2015 laws have allowed 15 IMGs to be accepted into health residency programs. This is often necessary for IMG regardless of previous education and practice experience, and six people currently practice medicine in the state.
These examples also show that IMG’s policies are not just immigration policies, but health and labor policies that affect the well-being of all Americans. In fact, many states have already benefited greatly from the contributions of immigration to healthcare workers, and view IMG laws as a way to continue supporting the health and workforce needs of their communities. For example, in New Mexico, where legislatures are considering a bill that opens up important routes to enable states to practice IMG, more than 15% of doctors and surgeons in 2022, migrants already calling state homes.
While professional licensing falls within the state, federal efforts have sought to address barriers like the limited number of medical residences available in the United States, such as the International Graduate School of Medicine Support Act and the Resident Shortage Reduction Act.
By continuing to modernize IMG policies, the nation can break out of obsolete barriers and ensure the opportunity for all qualified physicians to contribute to where their skills are most needed. Strong, bipartisan support for these policies is evidence of the important role of immigrants in keeping their communities healthy, and when we invest in our immigrant neighbors, we improve outcomes for all Americans.
Submitted below: Foreign doctor
