H-1B labor filings have surged in several Republican-held suburban congressional districts in Texas even as demand for the foreign-worker program declined across most of the United States between fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2025, according to a new analysis of federal labor data cited by Newsweek .
The administration has moved to alter how H-1B selections are made, introduced additional screening requirements and proposed changes affecting workers who lose their jobs. Governor Greg Abbott ordered Texas state agencies and public universities to freeze the initiation and filing of new H-1B petitions. That order does not cover all private employers in Texas, meaning companies outside the state government and public university systems can continue to seek H-1B workers subject to federal rules.
A proposed $100,000 fee on certain new overseas H-1B petitions also faced legal challenges. The directive is scheduled to remain in effect through May 31, 2027, unless the Texas Workforce Commission grants written approval. Because it comes as the federal government has pursued changes to the H-1B system under President Donald Trump, the Texas growth is particularly notable.
