Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas A&M University System to provide a system-wide list of all employees working on H-1B visas by the close of business Monday, according to internal emails reviewed by Quorum Report.
Abbott’s request, sent to leaders of all A&M campuses, comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the university’s use of foreign labor, particularly after The Dallas Express spent months pressing the institution for H-1B-related records. The outlet filed a formal complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s Office in January after repeated delays in releasing the documents.
Texas A&M records obtained by The Dallas Express show the university spent more than $3.25 million on H-1B visas between January 2020 and November 2025, covering sponsorship, administrative fees, and visa processing. According to federal data, over 1,400 workers across the Texas A&M University System have been approved for H-1B status during the same period.
Nationally, approximately 72% of H-1B visas are awarded to workers from India and about 12% to workers from China, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data.
The Dallas Express’ reporting highlighted that many of these positions were entry-level or just above entry-level, including instructional roles and administrative positions such as communications managers and graphic designers. Federal data indicate U.S. graduates in comparable fields face significant underemployment, raising questions about how the hiring of foreign workers affects local labor markets.
Cough cough… the TEXAS GOVERNMENT is one of the biggest users/abusers of H-1B… literally a TOP TEN user among all entities in Texas.
🤦♂️
I’ve been pointing this out for months (basically alone among Texas elected officials.)
Texans deserve better. https://t.co/a2liRkJIsm
— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) January 22, 2026
Brian E Harrison posted on X on January 22, 2026: “Cough cough… the TEXAS GOVERNMENT is one of the biggest users/abusers of H-1B… literally a TOP TEN user among all entities in Texas. I’ve been pointing this out for months (basically alone among Texas elected officials.) Texans deserve better.”
State Rep. Mitch Little also posted on January 22, responding to a report about Florida education officials contemplating restrictions on H-1B visas: “Our turn.”
State law requires public institutions to provide requested records, though agencies may invoke extensions under certain circumstances. The Dallas Express’ prior reporting noted that Texas A&M repeatedly delayed the release of H-1B files, initially setting deadlines as late as January 21, 2026, before providing the data after the attorney general complaint was filed. University officials did not respond to questions about the current disclosure by publication time.
The governor’s request adds new pressure on the university to clarify the scope and scale of its H-1B hiring practices. The issue is unfolding against a broader national debate over whether foreign worker programs support innovation or undercut wages for domestic employees, with states such as Florida taking steps to restrict H-1B hiring at public universities.
Texas A&M’s reported reliance on international students for tuition revenue, estimated at more than $106 million during the 2024–2025 academic year, further complicates the discussion, as public scrutiny intensifies over transparency, labor policy, and institutional priorities.
