Black immigrants account for 3.3 percent of all immigrant hospital workers in the U.S

Black immigrants which includes persons of Nigerian heritage make up 3.3 percent of the United States (U.S) healthcare and social assistance workforce, according to the American Immigration Council.

Since the passage of the ACA (Affordable Care Act) in the U.S in 2010, the healthcare sector expanded rapidly, creating a boom in hiring.

But that momentum is now reversing.

The fear among immigrant communities especially black immigrants is not just about deportation. It’s about being pushed out of a country where they have built careers, families, and communities.

As the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown, this vital segment of the healthcare workforce faces growing uncertainty, not just about their jobs, but about their right to remain in the country.

Read also: Canada allocates $14.3m to attract healthcare workers in 2025

Black immigrants, many of whom serve in essential clinical and nonclinical roles, are increasingly vulnerable to a wave of policy changes that threaten to upend their lives.

These includes new registry requirements, financial incentives for voluntary departure, and proposed restrictions on health insurance access under the recently passed Bill.

Although much of the administration’s rhetoric has targeted undocumented migrants, the impact of these policies is far broader.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll found that even lawfully present immigrants fear detention or deportation. Many worry that they or their family members could be swept up in enforcement actions, regardless of their legal status.

Read also: BOI pushes healthcare reform to curb $11bn medical tourism loss, brain drain

Hospitals heavily dependent on immigrant labour

The U.S. hospital system is deeply reliant on immigrant labour and is already facing a workforce crisis.

As an ageing population is increasing demand for care, while staffing shortages especially in rural areas and specialised fields are becoming more acute. The Trump administration’s immigration policies risk worsening this shortage by discouraging new immigrants and pushing current workers out.

“If there aren’t enough workers, hospitals may need to limit services,” said Scott Hulver, a policy analyst at KFF. “This isn’t just about physicians, it’s about the entire infrastructure of care.”

Immigrants are particularly overrepresented in hospital maintenance and cleaning roles, where they make up nearly 30 percent of the workforce. These positions are critical to infection control and patient safety, yet they are often the most precarious and least protected.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” passed by the House, includes provisions that could restrict access to health insurance for immigrants, making it harder for them to remain in the U.S. legally.

Combined with cuts to Medicaid and changes to the Affordable Care Act, hospitals are will have to brace for a rise in uninsured patients and a surge in uncompensated care.

The bottom line remains that black immigrants are not only integral to the U.S. hospital workforce, but are also among the most at risk under current immigration policy.

As the nation’s healthcare system grapples with staffing shortages and rising demand, the question is no longer whether it can afford to keep these workers, but whether it can afford to lose them.