SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — When Rob Coverdale took over as superintendent of the K-12 Crow Creek Tribal School in South Dakota in 2023, he found 15 teaching positions unfilled. Nine months later, those vacancies were filled primarily by Filipino teachers, many of whom arrived on H-1B visas.
“H-1B teachers are filling roles that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to,” Coverdale stated, emphasizing that these teachers are not taking jobs away from American applicants.
However, a recent imposition of a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications poses a significant dilemma for rural schools and healthcare facilities that depend on the ability to hire trained professionals from abroad.
This fee was introduced by the Trump administration last September, amid claims that employers were favoring overseas talent over domestic workers.
According to the American Medical Association, these new financial barriers could exacerbate the shortage of healthcare professionals by preventing hospitals from hiring much-needed doctors and specialists, particularly in remote areas where many jobs already go unfilled.
The lack of teachers and medical professionals affects rural communities severely; with one in eight public school positions filled by uncertified teachers, the educational landscape is precarious and likely to deteriorate. Coupled with the projected shortage of 87,000 physicians nationally in the next decade, the situation is dire.
Some community leaders are voicing their concerns over how this could impact their efforts to secure skilled professionals. Melissa Sadorf, from the National Rural Education Association (NREA), commented that smaller schools simply cannot absorb these costs, which would translate to losses in line items typically dedicated to other vital resources.
A coalition of organizations representing healthcare providers, educators, and religious institutions has filed a lawsuit against this fee, asserting the need for accessible pathways to hire essential workers who contribute to the fabric of rural life.
As schools and medical facilities in regions like Stephan, South Dakota, struggle to attract workers due to isolation and limited resources, the ramifications of this fee could be felt for years to come. It remains to be seen whether policymakers will act swiftly to provide relief to these crucial sectors.
