Twenty-one health organizations, led by the Association of American Medical Colleges, filed an amicus brief arguing against the Trump administration's attempts to reinstate the executive order that would place a temporary ban on travel from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
The brief, filed in Trump v. International Refugee Assistance Project and Trump v. State of Hawai'i, argues non-U.S. professionals are critical to patient care and research, which contribute to national security.
"For decades, health professionals from other countries have filled critical gaps in the physician workforce, especially in rural and other medically underserved communities," AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, MD, said in a statement. "Suspending entry of highly talented and skilled medical and research professionals into the United States on the basis of their nationalities would ultimately undermine the health security of our nation, especially as we face a looming physician shortage. When we close our borders to highly skilled health professionals, we also are closing them to collaboration, discovery and better national and global health."
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled unanimously Monday to continue to suspend the travel ban, according to a report from USA Today. It is the second federal appeals court ruling to find the travel ban discriminatory, according to the report.
The following 21 organizations, in addition to the AAMC, filed the brief:
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
- American College of Healthcare Executives
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- American College of Physicians
- American Dental Education Association
- American Nurses Association
- American Psychiatric Association
- American Public Health Association
- Association of Academic Health Centers
- Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
- Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions
- Association of University Programs in Health Administration
- Greater New York Hospital Association
- Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools
- National Medical Association
- National Resident Matching Program
- Physician Assistant Education Association
- Society of General Internal Medicine
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