The US government is considering expanding the use of medical information in immigration applications, raising concerns among healthcare workers and immigrant rights groups. Some doctors warn the move could reduce trust in the healthcare system and discourage immigrants from seeking medical treatment.

According to CNN, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated immigration medical exam guidelines, requesting more detailed health and vaccination records from designated physicians. Some doctors worry the information could be used for immigration status reviews rather than public health purposes alone.

Medical professionals noted that immigration applicants already undergo screenings for infectious diseases and vaccination history. However, some believe growing political tensions around immigration and public safety are increasingly pulling healthcare providers into immigration enforcement debates.

Doctors working with immigrant communities said some patients are now more hesitant to seek care, fearing their medical or mental health records could affect residency applications. Experts stressed that patient trust is essential to public health and warned that fear over data sharing could lead to delayed treatment or lower vaccination rates.

The Department of Homeland Security said the updated measures are meant to standardize health screening procedures and will still follow federal privacy laws.