Texas A&M University spent over $3.25 million in taxpayer funds to import 659 foreign workers through H-1B visas while American graduates face double-digit unemployment, sparking outrage among Texans who demand accountability for their hard-earned tax dollars.
Story Snapshot
- Texas A&M spent $3,252,339.17 on H-1B visa fees from 2020 to 2025, hiring 659 foreign workers for roles including graphic designers and software developers
- The spending occurred while U.S. computer science graduates faced 6.1% unemployment and 16.5% underemployment rates
- A pending Texas Attorney General complaint demands transparency after the university refused to comment on the foreign hiring spree
- Separate investigations revealed Texas A&M received up to $485 million from Qatar and $10 million from China, raising national security concerns
Massive Foreign Worker Spending Revealed
Texas A&M University spent $3,252,339.17 on H-1B visa fees and immigration costs between 2020 and late November 2025, according to USCIS records obtained by The Dallas Express. The 11-campus public university system sponsored 659 H-1B workers during this period, with total system-wide approvals exceeding 1,400 foreign hires. These positions included professors, graphic designers, communications managers, and software developers, sparking questions about why a state-funded institution prioritized foreign labor over qualified American workers.
https://youtu.be/qJUja3QlWu0?si=vdbY64IzzajB16h2
American Workers Left Behind
The foreign hiring surge coincided with troubling unemployment statistics for American graduates. Federal data from 2025 shows computer science graduates faced 6.1% unemployment and 16.5% underemployment rates, yet Texas A&M continued filling technical positions with foreign workers. Critics argue this represents a betrayal of Texas taxpayers who fund the university while their own children struggle to find work. The controversy intensified when compared to UT Dallas, which spent only $1.1 million on approximately 300 H-1B workers during a similar timeframe, demonstrating Texas A&M’s disproportionate reliance on imported labor.
Foreign Influence and National Security Risks
The H-1B spending revelation compounds existing concerns about Texas A&M’s foreign entanglements. Department of Energy investigations from 2015 to 2022 uncovered that over 100 A&M faculty members participated in Chinese talent programs like the Thousand Talents Plan without proper disclosure. The university received $10 million from China through its Qingdao laboratory partnership for Earth modeling research between 2018 and 2023. Additionally, Judicial Watch litigation exposed that Texas A&M accepted between $285 million and $485 million in grants and contracts from Qatar, linked to the university’s Qatar campus, with significant discrepancies in reported amounts that raise transparency questions.
Silence and Accountability Demands
Texas A&M officials refused to respond to requests for comment on the H-1B spending, maintaining silence as public backlash intensified online and through official channels. The Dallas Express filed a complaint with the Texas Attorney General seeking answers, though no resolution has been reported as of early 2026. This stonewalling contradicts principles of transparency that should govern public institutions spending taxpayer dollars. The American Association of University Professors defended H-1B programs generally, claiming they prevent staffing disruptions in specialized roles, but this justification rings hollow when applied to entry-level positions like graphic design that American graduates could readily fill.
The controversy gained international attention in January 2026 as media outlets worldwide amplified the “importing labor” narrative. This case represents a broader pattern affecting Texas universities, where $432 million in hostile nation funds flowed to various institutions, creating vulnerabilities to foreign influence and intellectual property theft. As President Trump’s administration prioritizes America First policies, universities face mounting pressure to demonstrate they serve American students and workers first, not foreign governments or cheap labor pools that undercut our citizens’ opportunities.
Sources:
Spent $3.25 million hiring H-1B workers: Texas university draws backlash over foreign hiring and claims of ‘importing labour’ – Times of India
Bad Money: The Infiltration and Usurpation of Texas A&M – Texas Scorecard
From $85K Profs to Elon’s Defense: Inside UT Dallas’ Million-Dollar Visa Spree – The Dallas Express
Texas A&M Grants – Judicial Watch
Spies in School: China, Others Stealing Our Intellectual Property – Texas Public Policy Foundation
