For Immediate Release:
March 30, 2020 ,

Contact:
Craig Harrington, National Political Director
[email protected], (513) 410-3133

Trump's restrictions on immigrant military doctors reduce our capacity to combat COVID-19

WASHINGTON — Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the Trump administration has allowed the President’s anti-immigrant prejudices to cloud its judgment and responsiveness to a global pandemic. Now, new reporting shows that those prejudices are forcing the U.S. military to fight this pandemic with one hand tied behind its back.

Last week, The Washington Post reported that “dozens of immigrant physicians” who were specifically recruited by the U.S. military “to harness their medical skills” are instead “stuck taking out trash and filing paperwork ... even as the military mobilizes doctors to fight the growing coronavirus pandemic.”

Why are so many highly-skilled health care professionals—who are already members of the military—stuck behind a muddle of bureaucracy during this time of crisis?

In 2017, the Trump administration increased restrictions on the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) recruitment program through the Department of Defense, a vital recruiting tool used by the Pentagon to infuse the military with skilled professionals seeking American citizenship and an opportunity to serve their country.

The new restrictions were put in place citing unspecified “security” concerns, at a time when the Trump administration was doubling down on its anti-immigrant policies. Hundreds of physicians with unique technical training were faced with the threat of deportation or the prospect of languishing for years in junior ranks, unable to put their skills to use in service of the American people. This is yet another example of how President Trump has abused his role as commander-in-chief to score political points, and now his unprincipled leadership and petty prejudices have even more dire consequences.

Despite years of neglect by this administration, many of these soldiers could provide crucial health care expertise as the military ramps up its coronavirus response, if only the administration would make them a priority and remove the obstacles it created in the MAVNI program to discourage their service.

More than 144,000 Americans have tested positive with COVID-19 infections. More than 2,500 Americans have died of complications from COVID-19. The rate of infection is accelerating, the death toll grows every day, and the American people deserve leaders who are willing to do whatever necessary to keep them safe and secure.

Serve America PAC is proud to support a new generation of leaders from coast-to-coast who understand the importance of leadership, especially on issues of public safety and national security. Congressman Seth Moulton founded Serve America to support military veterans, other service-driven candidates, and next-generation leaders running for federal, state, and local offices. In 2018, Serve America supported 21 successful House candidates, 18 of whom flipped seats from red to blue. This year, we’re proud to support a new class of principled endorsees who know what leadership really looks like.

To learn more about Serve America’s work and view our full 2020 candidate slate, visit www.serveamericapac.com.

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