Texas A&M’s H-1B spending and hiring practices since 2020 are under scrutiny after records show more than $3.25 million spent on sponsoring foreign labor, over 659 H-1B approvals at the College Station campus, and a systemwide total exceeding 1,400 approvals, amid reports of delayed transparency and a state demand for a full staff list.
Texas A&M University is facing questions after records revealed significant spending to sponsor foreign workers. Officials approved hundreds of H-1B visas at the main College Station campus and more across the wider university system, prompting concern about job displacement and institutional priorities.
Data show 659 H-1B approvals at the College Station campus alone since January 2020, and more than 1,400 systemwide approvals. The university’s total documented outlay tied to these H-1B hires, including visa processing and permanent residency sponsorship, reached $3,252,339.17.
Sources indicate many of the H-1B petitions were for positions that are typically entry-level or support-oriented, such as instructional roles, graphic design, and communications tasks. That mix of job classifications has raised eyebrows among lawmakers and taxpayers who expect such roles to be filled locally before turning to foreign labor programs.
Reports say Texas A&M did not promptly produce records when asked, despite state law that requires public agencies to respond to records requests within 10 days. Multiple extension requests and delays drew complaints and fed suspicion that the university was trying to slow-walk disclosure rather than comply transparently.
The media outlet that sought the records ultimately filed a complaint with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after months of back-and-forth with the university. That escalation brought the matter to the state level and put pressure on system leaders to provide the requested breakdown of H-1B hires and costs.
Internal emails obtained by reporting outlets show Governor Greg Abbott pressed the Texas A&M System for a full accounting, issuing a deadline for the release of a complete list of H-1B staff. That move reflects growing political concern about whether public institutions are prioritizing foreign labor over qualified American workers.
There are two distinct issues at play: the dollar amount spent on sponsorships and the nature of the positions being filled. When public universities use taxpayer resources to recruit and underwrite foreign hires for roles that could be filled locally, taxpayers and state leaders reasonably demand answers.
Transparency is not optional when public money is involved. State rules exist to give citizens and oversight officials timely access to records; dragging out requests undermines trust and prevents effective scrutiny of hiring decisions and budgets.
Beyond the raw numbers, critics point to a broader pattern at some institutions where visa sponsorship becomes routine for jobs that do not require extraordinary, specialized skill sets. That practice creates the appearance that institutions are bypassing the local workforce, even if individual hires were legally justified.
University leaders say attracting global talent is important for research and teaching, but those arguments ring hollow if the bulk of approvals are for support and entry-level roles. A clear, public accounting of who was hired, in what roles, and why sponsorship was necessary would address the central concerns.
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