To what end? A Nigerian orthopedic surgeon, a Venezuelan family physician, and an Iranian ophthalmologist—all stopped by Executive Order 10998

The last time I mentioned the situation of my Nigerian friend who is stuck in the legal immigration system because of executive order 10998, there were people who didn’t know its far reaching consequences as much as I did.

The @nytimes is reporting that a Nigerian orthopedic…

— Max Akonde, Ph.D. (@EpiAkonde) April 5, 2026

The last time I mentioned the situation of my Nigerian friend who is stuck in the legal immigration system because of Executive Order 10998, there were people who didn’t know its far reaching consequences as much as I did.

The @nytimes is reporting that a Nigerian orthopedic surgeon, a Venezuelan family physician and an Iranian ophthalmologist, all of whom are US trained have stopped practicing because they can’t get their visas processed.

The initial assertion was that the immigration pause for the listed countries was not going to affect those in the country legally. Barely 3 months into with the EO coming into effect, we are losing some of the most valuable workforce. I believe the USCIS has the potential to screen people and consider them individually rather than by where they’re born. People do not choose whether they want to be born Iranian, Nigerian or Venezuelan and to think that because God created you in a certain location, you’re penalized for it, is not only unfair but it’s also ungodly.

The reality when it comes to certain professions is that the United States needs them as much as they also want to be here. In the long run, if we do not take them here, rural America will be the worse hit. These professionals may struggle now because the US is choosing to block them out after they spent significant among of their lives and careers here, but there are countries lurking who will gladly welcome them. So either make the exception, lift the pause and evaluate individuals value to the country or risk losing them forever. I pray the US chooses the former.

If not, once again, to what end…?