Press Releases

International and American Associations for Dental Research Statement on Presidential Proclamation Suspending Visa Programs

June 24, 2020, Alexandria, Va., USA - The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) are disappointed by the administration’s June 22 Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak that suspends the entry of certain foreign workers into the United States. 

While the proclamation is intended to temporarily block foreign workers entering the United States on H-1B, H-2B, J and L visas, the consequences of such a move will be long-lasting. Not only will this decision affect the relationship between the United States and our partners abroad, but it will also have a negative impact on American research and innovation and therein, the U.S. economy. 

We were pleased to see that the administration dropped its initial plans to curtail the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program—a critical type of work authorization that allows students to gain relevant U.S. work experience in their area of study. However, the administration’s actions against the H-1B and other visa programs will harm the United States’ ability to fill specialized roles in fields, including technology, health care, and research. 

IADR and AADR believe that science is, and must be, a collaborative endeavor. Suspending notable visa programs—even with the “temporary” designation—will have a negative bearing on the U.S. scientific pipeline and our ability to attract top talent from around the world. 

We urge the administration to reconsider this proclamation. In the meantime, IADR and AADR remain ever committed to our diverse membership and our efforts to serve as an inclusive community for dental, oral, and craniofacial researchers worldwide.


About the International Association for Dental Research

The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with over 10,000 individual members worldwide, with a Mission to drive dental, oral and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being worldwide. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org. The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is the largest Division of IADR with 3,100 members in the United States. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org/aadr.

About the American Association for Dental Research

The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is a nonprofit organization with nearly 3,500 individual members dedicated to: (1) advancing research and increasing knowledge for the improvement of oral health, (2) supporting and representing the oral health research community, and (3) facilitating the communication and application of research findings. AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). To learn more, visit www.iadr.org/aadr.