1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern over the second constitutional crisis that occurred this past weekend: the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese physician, despite a federal judge’s order to halt her removal. This follows reports of other immigrants being deported to El Salvador without due process, raising serious legal and humanitarian concerns. These actions disregard the rule of law and undermine judicial authority, setting a dangerous precedent. Beyond the legal implications, the deportation of skilled healthcare workers threatens our already strained healthcare system. Immigrants are essential to the medical field, filling critical shortages in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. According to the Census Bureau, approximately 5.5 million immigrants work in education and health services, making up 18.4% of all foreign-born workers in the U.S. Additionally: • 26% of physicians and surgeons in the U.S. are foreign-born. • 15% of registered nurses and nearly 40% of home health aides are immigrants. • The demand for healthcare professionals continues to grow due to an aging population and increased medical needs. If visa-holding and green card-holding healthcare workers face deportation or choose to leave due to uncertainty, the consequences will be dire: • Severe staffing shortages in hospitals, rural clinics, and long-term care facilities. • Longer wait times for medical care and fewer specialists available, especially in underserved areas. • Higher patient mortality rates, particularly for vulnerable populations who rely on immigrant healthcare workers for life-saving treatment. The deportation of Dr. Alawieh is not just an individual injustice—it signals to all foreign-born medical professionals that their contributions are unprotected and their status precarious, regardless of legal status or judicial intervention. If this continues, we will face a catastrophic collapse in healthcare accessibility. I urge you to demand accountability for this unconstitutional overreach and take immediate legislative action to protect immigrant healthcare workers. This includes ensuring due process protections, reinforcing judicial authority, and securing pathways for skilled professionals to remain in the U.S. The U.S. healthcare system cannot afford to lose these workers. Please take action to prevent further unlawful deportations and protect the stability of our healthcare workforce.