The Trump administration’s pause on visa interviews for international college students also affects K–12 education because a growing number of school districts hire international teachers in shortage areas like STEM and special education.

Districts that rely on exchange programs to hire teachers largely opt for J-1 cultural exchange visas, which are valid for teaching for up to five years.

The Trump administration has temporarily stopped conducting interviews for J-1 and other types of visas while it revises screening requirements.

States are increasingly using international teachers to make up for shortfalls in local applicants and high teacher turnover. Many larger districts recruit international candidates to teach language-immersion programs.

Some observers fear stepped-up immigration enforcement could also discourage international applicants. On May 6, federal immigration agents raided a house shared by 10 international teachers in Maui but did not make any arrests, Honolulu Civil Beat reported.

“We’re very worried that it might happen again,” Osa Tui Jr., the president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, told Civil Beat.