30 Days Inside: Hospitals and the Immigrant Workforce

In this hour, Lavandera gets rare access to see firsthand what it takes to keep West River Hospital running in a remote community, serving patients across 20,000 square miles spanning three states. With more than 40 open positions, the hospital struggles to recruit workers willing to relocate to the area, making immigrant workers an increasingly vital part of its workforce. Lavandera follows doctors, nurses, and other staff through their demanding days, meeting Filipino nurses and laboratory technicians who are helping fill critical roles at the hospital. "The people you will meet in our report will stay with you forever. This hour is a reporting journey that captures how a diverse group of Americans and immigrants are working together to serve this southwest North Dakota community. But it really tells a bigger story of how rural America finds itself on the front lines of the immigration debate. I'm thrilled to share this unique perspective with our viewers," said Lavandera. The episode follows several hospital workers both on the job and at home, exploring what brought them to the United States and why they chose to build lives in rural America. Lavandera also examines the broader debate over immigration and the American workforce, speaking with local residents and Republican State Representative Keith Kempenich about the changing face of the community, the need for immigrant workers, and the concerns around assimilation.