SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — When Rob Coverdale started as the superintendent of the K-12 Crow Creek Tribal School in South Dakota, he faced the daunting challenge of 15 unfilled teaching positions. Within nine months, he managed to fill these vacancies with Filipino teachers, the majority of whom came through the H-1B visa program, designed for skilled workers in specialty occupations.
We hired H-1B teachers because we simply didn’t have other applicants for those positions, Coverdale stated. They are not taking jobs from Americans; they are filling roles that would otherwise remain vacant. The reliance on H-1B visas highlights the critical need for skilled educators and healthcare workers in rural settings, where vacancies are often hard to fill due to lower salaries and limited amenities.
However, a newly announced $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas, effective from September 19, poses significant problems for these communities. Initiated by the Trump administration, this fee is intended to curb the use of foreign labor over domestic workers. In response, a coalition of healthcare providers, educators, and religious organizations have filed a lawsuit claiming the fee threatens essential services.
The American Medical Association predicts a physician shortage of 87,000 in the coming decade, a crisis that will be exacerbated by the recent changes. Rural areas, which depend heavily on immigrant workers due to the challenges of attracting qualified individuals, are now at greater risk of facing unfilled positions. Coverdale noted that his area struggles with isolation, making it difficult to staff schools.
Mary Joy Ponce-Torres, one of Coverdale's hires with extensive teaching experience in the Philippines, expressed her contentment with the community. However, she recognizes that many immigrants leave familial ties behind in hopes of better wages in the U.S.
Concerns extend beyond education. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association, warned the fee could cripple healthcare access in rural communities, as many potential doctors are likely to choose urban centers over isolated areas due to better opportunities.
As the debate continues, educators like Coverdale, along with healthcare professionals, advocate for reconsideration of the fee, emphasizing the dire need for skilled workers in rural America.
