Cape Merchants Fear End of J-1 Visa Program

CORRECTION: Morey’s Piers hired 1,500 summer workers this year. The below story on the J-1 program incorrectly reported the total of those workers.
WILDWOOD – This summer unofficially ended on Labor Day Weekend, yet many are already looking ahead to the 2018 summer season, especially with the recent changes that the Trump administration may make in early September. 
According to sources within the White House, President Donald Trump is planning to eliminate the J-1 Student Work and Travel (SWT) program. This includes the J-1 Intern, Trainee, Camp Counselor, and Au Pair programs.
These programs allow young people from foreign countries to work in the United States for a short period.
Supporters of the president’s plan are worried that those international students take Americans’ jobs. “There are particular programs that need more attention because of their size, their effect on the U.S. labor market, and because a significant number of people overstay their visas,” stated Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, to the Wall Street Journal.
This affects future summers in Cape May County both economically and emotionally. The outcome of this action would cause a negative economic impact to some prominent businesses, such as Morey’s Piers. This amusement pier on the Wildwood boardwalk stated that “elimination of these programs would have a devastating impact to tourism-driven communities and businesses, as the program allows companies like Morey’s Piers to fully staff for the season.”
According to the U.S. Department of State, 2,846 international students were located in Cape May County in 2016. In 2017, Morey’s Piers hired 1,500 summer workers, including 550 under the J-1 program.
Maggie Warner, digital media/public relations manager of Morey’s Piers, stated, “Abolishing the program which acts as a supplement to hiring locally, would drastically decrease the family-owned seaside attraction’s ability to operate and shorten its season, especially during the shoulder months when American students are unable to work.”
Surrounding businesses, including boardwalk venues, hotels, restaurants, parking lots, and retail, could be impacted by the seaside attraction’s lack of tourism.
According to Vicki Clark, president of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce, “The SWT program is incredibly valuable to Cape May County’s tourism industry. Employers supplement their local hiring with these students. There simply are not enough local residents to fill all the positions created by our beach and boardwalk driven tourism economy.”
The J-1 visa holders contribute an estimated amount of more than $500 million annually through fees, travel, housing, and entertainment.
If the Trump administration eliminates the J-1 program, there will also be an impact on the international workers and young American workers.
Marianna Podlucka, a 23-year-old student from Slovakia, worked at Ocean Oasis on Morey’s Piers for three years as a cashier and a server.
“I really spent the best three summers of my life here. I made the best friendships and traveled through the U.S. I explored so many places in the U.S,” she said.
Although Podlucka has a job as a journalist in Bratislava, she comes back each summer to gain more experience and professional skills that she can use in the future, including her knowledge of the English language.
“After my third year, I’m not feeling like a foreigner in America. I’m feeling like it’s my second home.”
Podlucka is dismayed that many international students would not experience what she was able to if the J-1 program is dismantled. “If Trump will destroy the program, it will destroy so many dreams.”
Molly Monaghan, 23, had a similar positive experience as Podlucka did at Morey’s Piers. An American, she was an employee for five years as a server and aquatic supervisor.
“To me, doing away with the J-1 exchange visitors program is a mistake. This program heightens cultural understanding for both the students and the American employees,” Monaghan said.
Monaghan said she made the most memorable experiences in her life as a result of the program.
“This program allows us all to learn about cultures and gives these students a firsthand understanding of the American way of life. We should not be closing our doors to world’s youth who just want the same study/work abroad experience we want to give our children.”
To contact Danielle Moskowtiz, email dmoskowitz@cmcherald.com.