Texas launches probe into H-1B use in state's public schools, universities

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has launched an enquiry into the use of H-1B visas by the state's public schools, universities, and related institutions, focussing on whether taxpayer dollars are supporting foreign workers in roles that could potentially be filled by Texans.

On January 26, Abbott publicly addressed the issue during an interview with conservative radio host Mark Davis. He revealed that his administration had sent requests to various public education entities asking them to disclose information on employees working under H-1B visas. The governor stated that an "action plan" would be announced soon once the data is reviewed, according to reports by The Texas Tribune and Houston Chronicle.

Internal emails obtained by Quorum Report, which were cited in both The Texas Tribune and Houston Chronicle, showed that the governor's office specifically directed the Texas A&M University System to provide detailed information including job roles and countries of origin for all H-1B visa holders by the close of business on Monday, January 26. Abbott expressed clear scepticism about the necessity of such hires in public education settings.

WHY HAS ABBOTT DIRECTED TEXAS INSTITUTIONS TO DISCLOSE H-1B FIGURES?

Abbott told Mark Davis he does not "see any reason why we need any H-1B visa employees in our public schools in the state of Texas", though he left open the possibility that some individuals might possess unique skill sets justifying their employment, reported The Texas Tribune and Dallas Morning News.

He further suggested that certain visa holders admitted during or before the Biden administration might have overstayed their authorised periods, tying the matter to broader federal enforcement efforts under the Donald Trump administration, according to The Texas Tribune.

This review was prompted in part by The Dallas Express, which pursued public records on Texas A&M University's H-1B visa usage for months and eventually filed a complaint with the Texas attorney general to obtain the requested information. According to its report, the university has expended over $3 million since 2020 to pay for the costs of hiring from the H-1B programme.

HOW IS TEXAS RELIANT ON H-1B VISA HIRES?

The H-1B visa is a federal programme that permits employers to sponsor foreign workers for speciality occupations that typically require at least a bachelor's degree. In Texas, public universities, academic medical centres, and certain school districts rely on the programme to recruit professors, researchers, physicians, and teachers. Like most of the US, Texas has long suffered from a crippling shortage of specialised teachers, forcing schools and universities to resort to hiring from the H-1B programme.

According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services data (USCIS) cited by The Texas Tribune, Texas state's largest education-sector employers of H-1B visa holders include Dallas ISD as well as academic medical centres, such as UT Southwestern Medical Centre and UT MD Anderson Cancer Centre.

The Dallas Independent School District sponsors the most H-1B visa holders in Texas, with 230, followed by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas with 228, according to the Houston Chronicle. Other institutions that have larger numbers of H-1B visa holders include the Texas A&M flagship with 214, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston with 171, and the University of Texas at Austin with 169.

Texas A&M University itself has drawn attention for spending more than $3.25 million on H-1B visa processing and related costs since 2020, according to coverage by The Dallas Express.

Higher education leaders and immigration advocates have warned that limiting access to international talent could undermine Texas's innovation pipeline and economic competitiveness.

Miriam Feldblum, CEO of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, told The Texas Tribune that the ability to attract the world's top minds has been central to the strength of US higher education, and recent federal changes, including the $100,000 fee for new H-1B hires, already pose significant challenges to universities’ global standing.

Governor Abbott's enquiry aligns with heightened national debate over the H-1B programme's integrity under the Trump administration, which was recently highlighted in an investigative video by journalist Sara Gonzales on BlazeTV. Gonzales's report alleged potential misuse by some Texas-based companies sponsoring visas while listing residential addresses with little visible business activity.

As Abbott's review moves forward, Texas' public institutions might have to prioritise local hires against their dependence on global talent, upon which classrooms, research labs and medical centres have long relied on.

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