Hot Topics in Healthcare Immigration in 2025
| Tuesday, October 7, 2025 |
| 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM |
Overview
Not surprisingly, the current administration’s impact on Healthcare Immigration has been significant. From Student Visa stamp revocation/cancelation issues to the new travel ban, healthcare organizations have been forced to modify and adopt their approach to recruiting foreign physicians (including J-1/ H-1B Medical Residents and Fellows), RNs and other professional health care workers.
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The threat of ICE enforcement action across the country has incentivized healthcare employers to re-evaluate their policies and protocol for interactions with law enforcement due to Patient Privacy concerns and enforcement-related disruption of clinical services. Additionally, the removal of “safe haven” status for certain organizations including hospitals, is driving a renewed interest in Form I-9 audits and concern for Form I-9 compliance.
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This session will provide updates and insights on healthcare-specific immigration topics based upon the real-world practice experiences of Michael Kim, employment-based immigration counsel with Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, PC (focused exclusively on health care immigration matters) and Frank Garcia, Associate Vice President & Senior Legal Officer of University of Texas Medical Branch
Francisco Garcia
Associate Vice President
UTMB
Speaker
Francisco “Frank” Garcia joined the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2012. As Associate Vice President of International Affairs, he represents the university in connection with immigration and visa matters and manages the Office of International Affairs, part of the Department of Legal Affairs. He provides guidance to UTMB’s departments and personnel on all aspects of immigration law, ranging from visa petitions to policy development, worksite enforcement and compliance issues. He is the Responsible Officer for UTMB’s J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and serves on university committees dealing with Export Control Compliance, International Travel Oversight and International Collaborations. Prior to coming to UTMB, he practiced immigration law with Houston-based Harry Gee, Jr. & Associates, focusing heavily on employment-based visas, naturalization and appeals. He is a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in Texas.
Michael Kim
Shareholder
Hall Render
Speaker
Michael Kim leads the firm's immigration practice and focuses entirely on business immigration matters. He routinely handles a wide-range of employment-based immigration matters for hospitals, health care entities, physician practice groups, corporations, businesses and individuals across the United States including:
-J-1 Waivers of the 2 year Foreign Residency Requirement
-H-1B petitions (Initial, Extension, Change of Status and transfers)
-P-1 Petitions for Professional Athletes
-Trade NAFTA Work Authorization
-Religious workers
-Schedule A Permanent Residency Petitions for Registered Nurses and Physical Therapists
-Permanent Residency via PERM Labor Certification
-National Interest Waivers for Physicians practicing in a Medically Underserved Area
In addition, Mr. Kim provides daily counsel to numerous health care providers on matters such as I-9 Compliance, AC-21 Portability issues, International Charity Care and foreign national patient issues.
