The Dallas Express’ senior investigative reporter, Kellen McGovern Jones, will deliver a speech in Dallas on November 13. In his address, he will discuss how Texas companies utilize the federal H-1B visa program and encourage all interested parties to participate in the public comment period regarding proposed reforms to the system.
The event, hosted by the True Texas Project, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Dallas GOP Office, located at 11617 North Central Expressway.
Jones’ talk, titled “How Texans Lose Jobs to H-1B Visas,” will explore how major Texas employers, including Cognizant, Tesla, Charles Schwab & Co., have used the visa program to fill job openings traditionally held by U.S. workers, according to the group’s event listing.
“What started in the 90’s under the guise of temporary workers filling highly skilled positions that could not otherwise be filled, has unsurprisingly turned into an immigration funnel for entire foreign-born families who use our visas and our public services, including the public education system,” the online flyer states.
Jones has led multiple DX investigations into the H-1B visa system. His reporting has revealed extensive foreign hiring at major Texas institutions such as Texas Instruments and the University of Texas at Dallas, even as those same entities reduced or froze domestic positions or used taxpayer dollars to support their hiring programs.
In October, Jones reported that Texas Instruments continued to seek hundreds of foreign workers through H-1B filings while laying off employees across the nation and North Texas, according to federal data. Earlier this month, DX reported that UT Dallas spent more than $1 million sponsoring H-1B workers since 2020.
At the November 13 meeting, Jones is expected to discuss those findings and the ongoing federal proposal that could overhaul the United States’ allocation of H-1B visas. The Trump administration’s proposed rule would replace the current lottery system with a “weighted selection process,” giving preference to job offers with higher wages.
The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published the proposal earlier this year under docket number USCIS-2025-0040. The public comment period is open through November 24.
Jones emphasized that his appearance in Dallas is not a partisan event, but rather an opportunity to inform citizens about how to participate in the federal rulemaking process.
He encouraged members of the public, regardless of their position, to file formal comments with the government before the deadline.
“Whether you support or oppose what the President is doing on H-1B visas, this is a matter of public concern, and people should make their voices heard,” said Jones.
Under federal law, agencies are required to solicit and review public feedback before finalizing new regulations. Substantive comments that include data, analysis, or personal impact statements can influence revisions to the final rule.
H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign professionals in “specialty occupations” that require at least a bachelor’s degree. About 85,000 are issued annually, with roughly 72% going to Indian nationals and 12% to Chinese nationals, according to USCIS data.
Critics of the program claim that it drives down wages and displaces qualified American workers, while supporters argue it fills labor shortages and keeps U.S. companies globally competitive.
The November 13 event will also feature remarks from congressional candidate Darrell Day, according to the True Texas Project’s announcement. The meeting is free and open to the public, with a prayer gathering beginning at 6 p.m. and the program running from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Jones’ recent reporting has chronicled how the visa debate has reached both the corporate boardroom and Capitol Hill.
Senators from both parties have questioned Amazon, Apple, and other major employers over their continued reliance on foreign labor while conducting layoffs in the U.S., as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The speech is part of Jones’ broader effort to bring transparency to the intersection of immigration and labor policy — and to encourage Texans to engage directly in shaping federal decisions that affect their communities.
Members of the public can submit comments on the proposed H-1B visa rule by visiting Regulations.gov and entering docket number USCIS-2025-0040.
The submission deadline is November 24, 2025.
A DX guide on how to participate in the public comment period is available here.