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H-1B Filings Surge in Republican Texas Suburbs While National Demand Falls

The pattern points to a clash between private employers seeking skilled foreign workers and shifting federal rules plus state limits on public hiring.

What’s behind the H-1B surge in Texas despite a US decline. (Representational image)
H-1B Visas
H-1B Visas
Image

Overview

  • A LayoffHedge analysis published Friday found that certified Labor Condition Applications rose sharply in several Republican-held Texas suburban districts between fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2025, bucking a national trend of falling filings.
  • The increase was concentrated: the 3rd Congressional District saw certified LCA filings climb 242% and the 26th rose 217%, while ten of the 20 fastest-growing districts nationally were in Texas.
  • An LCA is an employer step filed with the U.S. Department of Labor to show demand for a foreign skilled worker and is required before an H-1B petition; LCAs do not equal final visa approvals or separate individual hires.
  • Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered a freeze in January on starting new H-1B petitions by state agencies and public universities through May 31, 2027, but that order does not stop private companies in Texas from filing under federal rules.
  • The surge comes as the Biden-era lottery was replaced and the administration changed selection and screening rules and proposed new fees for some petitions, creating legal and market uncertainty that could reshape employer hiring and local labor markets.