Whereas the Republican Party of Texas Platform plank 238, “Putting American Citizens First in Immigration Policy”, states: “Our federal immigration system should be reformed to serve the interest of American citizens first”, and includes support for “the repeal of the H1-B visa program”; and

Whereas in 2023, the US Department of Labor issued $94 million in taxpayer-funded grants to companies through its Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs program to “invest in public-private partnerships to develop, implement, and scale worker-centered sector strategy training programs in H-1B industries”; and

Whereas taxpayer-funded entities such as school districts, institutions of higher education, and even state agencies sponsors hundreds of H1B visas each year; and

Whereas major corporations in or near Williamson County, such as Apple, Cognizant and Google, are currently bringing in thousands of H1B workers to the area; and

Whereas in March 2025, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development issued Mortgagee Letter 2025-09 to update residency requirements for FHA-backed mortgages in order to safeguard “economic opportunities for American citizens” by reserving such loans for individuals who “hold lawful Permanent Resident” status; and

Whereas despite this policy change, certain foreign national mortgage programs allow for H1B visa holders to qualify for loans even with little to no U.S. credit history; and

Whereas American citizens under 40 are facing an unprecedented housing affordability crisis, leading to delayed homeownership and hesitancy to begin a family; and

Whereas research confirms that immigration from the H1B visa program results in reduced domestic employment, sends U.S. jobs overseas, creates unrealistic market wage levels; and

Whereas in Fiscal Year 2022, there were an estimated 795,000 visa overstays in the U.S, with most H1B overstays involving workers from Mexico and India; andWhereas from 2016-2017, during the first Trump administration, visa overstays exceeded illegal border crossings in adding to the undocumented population; and

Whereas H1B visa cardholders are able to bring with them their spouses and children, including young adults up to age 21; and

Now, be it resolved that the Williamson County Republican Party affirms RPT Platform plank 238; and

Further, be it resolved that the Williamson County Republican Party expresses concern for our county’s younger residents who are subject to wage depression and housing unaffordability; and

Further, be it resolved that the Williamson County Republican Party strongly believes that to truly be America First and Texas First, we must put our citizens first in employment and housing; and

Further, be it resolved that the Williamson County Republican Party calls on the Texas Legislature to prohibit taxpayer-funded agencies and institutions from sponsoring H1B visas;

Further, be it resolved that the Williamson County Republican Party will withhold its support for candidates for statewide or federal office who do not prioritize a total freeze on the H1B visa program and an end to the US Department of Labor’s H1B One Workforce Grant Program.