New Immigration Law Service at University of North Dakota Adjusts to Uncertainty

(Photo courtesy of University of North Dakota School of Law via the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota lawmakers funded a law school clinic to help bring foreign workers to North Dakota, but the program has had to pivot amid federal restrictions on work visas.

The new service, housed at the University of North Dakota, was created partly to address the state’s chronic labor shortage. North Dakota as of December had roughly 47 available workers for every 100 open jobs, according to data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — the second-lowest rate of any state.

Many North Dakota businesses are interested in filling open positions by hiring foreign workers on visas, but applying for them can be cumbersome. Hiring a private lawyer can be expensive, and there are only a few full-time immigration attorneys in the state.

Lawmakers thought the clinic could help a lot of workers through that process, said Rep. Mark Sanford, who sponsored the 2025 legislation that created the program.