By Alanna Badgley, EMT-P
The recent article, 鈥淲hat a second Trump presidency means for EMS鈥� failed to identify a pressing impact on the EMS field within its section on immigration. The immigration policies that Trump is suggesting will likely have much more far-reaching effects than just removing those with criminal backgrounds.
| More: 鈥淲hat a second Trump presidency means for EMS.鈥� How will Trump鈥檚 campaign promises impact EMS funding, call volume and service quality?
Nationwide, there are EMTs and paramedics working as EMS professionals legally through temporary work authorizations, such as temporary protected status (TPS) and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Many of these providers are hardworking, dues-paying members of my union, the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP).
As part of his far-reaching immigration policies, Trump has promised to cancel those work authorizations, which could lead to the removal of legal status and potential deportation of hundreds of EMS providers who have been legally working on these visas 鈥� some for 20 years or more. The first TPS cancellations are expected in March of 2025.
These actions could exacerbate an already critical nationwide EMS staffing shortage. A recent economic analysis by renowned economist, , found that the net effect of mass deportation reduced employment and earnings for U.S. workers.
As an industry that is attempting to grow and create more career paths for EMS professionals, we must do everything we can to advocate for our existing dedicated providers to be able to continue to work and serve their communities, even if they are presently working on temporary visas such as TPS and DACA. Then, we must do everything we can to advocate for continued public service 鈥� such as saving lives as an EMS practitioner 鈥� being a legitimate pathway to citizenship for these hard-working individuals among us.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alanna Badgley is president, ; national vice president, ; co-founder, / ; and a New York State paramedic.