‘Spent $3.25 million hiring H-1B workers’: Texas university draws backlash over foreign hiring and claims of ‘importing labour’

Texas A&M University is facing backlash after fresh claims that the public university spent around $3.25 million on H-1B visa fees and related immigration costs between 2020 and late November 2025, sponsoring hundreds of foreign workers for a wide range of roles. The figures have sparked criticism online, with some questioning whether the institution is relying too heavily on overseas recruitment at a time when graduate job opportunities, particularly in tech, remain under pressure. Supporters, however, say H-1B hiring is often used by major universities to fill specialised roles, keep research moving, and prevent staffing disruptions across teaching and technical operations.

Texas A&M sponsored 659 H-1B workers since 2020

According to The Dallas Express, which cited USCIS records, Texas A&M had 659 H-1B beneficiaries approved from 2020 through September 2025, the most recent period referenced in the data.
The story also pointed to the wider Texas A&M System, claiming approvals across affiliated entities exceeded 1,400. The spending total was reported as $3,252,339.17, covering visa-related costs across different stages of the process, including processing and sponsorship fees.
The controversy is not just about money, but also about the types of jobs linked to the filings. The records cited included instructional roles as well as non-teaching positions such as Graphic Designer II, Communications Manager, and software application developer.
Some job postings referenced standard qualification requirements, including a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience. Supporters argue that in large university systems, many of these roles support ongoing programmes, labs, and campus operations, where stability and specific technical experience can matter as much as academic credentials.

Comparison with UT Dallas adds fuel to the debate

The spending has also been contrasted with hiring at the University of Texas at Dallas, which was cited as spending about $1.1 million to sponsor roughly 300 H-1B workers over a similar period.
Critics have taken this as evidence that Texas A&M is relying more heavily on foreign hiring, while others note that differences in size, staffing needs, and institutional structure can significantly shape both the number of visas and the overall cost.
The debate has intensified amid wider concerns about the job market for young tech workers. A 2025 estimate from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York cited in the coverage reported 6.1% unemployment and 16.5% underemployment among computer science graduates.
Even so, higher education advocates argue that H-1B hiring does not always clash with graduate hiring, particularly when roles require specialised experience or when staffing supports research and teaching systems that benefit students.

Supporters say H-1B hiring supports research and innovation

While the backlash has been loud, supporters of the programme argue it remains a key hiring pathway for universities, especially for roles that sustain research output, strengthen academic programmes, and maintain competitiveness for funding and talent.
The American Association of University Professors has defended H-1B as an important route for attracting skilled professionals into the US workforce, particularly in areas where institutions struggle to fill roles quickly through domestic hiring alone.
The Dallas Express report said the records were released after delays and referenced a pending complaint with the Texas Attorney General. For now, the story has become another flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration hiring, graduate employment pressures, and transparency at publicly funded institutions.