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Preamble and Core Principles

WHEREAS, the Young Republicans of Texas (YRT) are committed to an “America First” policy that prioritizes the economic well-being, job opportunities, and prosperity of American citizens; and

WHEREAS, the United States must not be treated as a mere economic zone but as a sovereign nation that prioritizes the livelihoods, culture, and futures of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, American workers deserve access to high-paying, stable jobs that enable them to raise families, contribute to their communities, and strengthen the nation’s future, and secure for themselves and their posterity the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as affirmed in the Declaration of Independence; and

Visa Program Abuses & Economic Harm

WHEREAS, certain visa programs, including F-1 (student visas), J-1 (exchange visitor visas), Optional Practical Training (OPT), Curricular Practical Training (CPT), H-1B, L-1A, H-4 Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), and EB-1 (extraordinary ability visas), have been subject to abuse or exploitation, displacing American workers and diverting taxpayer-funded resources to non-citizens; and

WHEREAS, the H-1B visa program, as previously resolved by this organization, undermines American workers by allowing employers to hire foreign labor, often at 25-35% lower wages, for jobs that qualified Americans could fill;

WHEREAS, 29 of the top 50 H-1B petitioning employers in FY2025 are classified under NAICS codes for IT consulting and staffing services (5415 and 5613), collectively accounting for over 102,000 approved petitions, many of which facilitate the training of U.S. workers’ replacements prior to offshoring their roles (USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub, FY2025; Economic Policy Institute analysis, 2025); and

WHEREAS, Texas public entities (Texas A&M System, University of Texas System, Texas Tech, Dallas ISD, etc.) received over 4,200 H-1B petition approvals in FY2025, part of approximately 28,000 statewide, despite taxpayer funding; and

WHEREAS, companies receiving Texas taxpayer-funded monies, including Texas Enterprise Fund grants, still file thousands of H-1Bs instead of hiring Texans; and

WHEREAS, colleges and universities receiving federal or state funding maintain offices and programs dedicated to supporting international students and visa holders (e.g., J-1, F-1, OPT, CPT, H-1B), diverting resources from American students and prioritizing non-citizens; and

WHEREAS, federally funded PhD programs, supported by American taxpayer dollars, are increasingly utilized by international students who may use these programs as a pathway to remain in the United States, with inadequate oversight of completion rates and project outcomes; and

WHEREAS, over 1.1 million F-1 students entered in FY2024, with less than 15% returning within 5 years, turning education into a backdoor residency pipeline; and

WHEREAS, the Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) programs, tied to F-1 student visas, permit international students to work in the United States for extended periods, often competing directly with American graduates for entry-level positions; and

WHEREAS, the J-1 visa program, intended for cultural and educational exchange, is often misused to fill low-wage or temporary jobs, undercutting American workers in industries such as hospitality, agriculture, and technology; and

WHEREAS, the L-1A visa program, intended for intracompany transfers of executives and managers, has been abused by some employers to bring in foreign workers for non-executive roles, undercutting American professionals; and

WHEREAS, the H-4 visa program, which grants work authorization (EAD) to spouses of H-1B visa holders, further displaces American workers by allowing additional foreign labor into the job market; and

WHEREAS, the EB-1 visa, often referred to as the “Einstein visa,” intended for individuals of extraordinary ability, has been misused in some cases to grant permanent residency to individuals who do not meet the intended high standards, undermining the program’s integrity; and

Institutional & Corporate Discrimination Against Native Americans

WHEREAS, companies historically paid less in taxes for F-1 OPT employees because these employees are exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA); and

WHEREAS, Texas public universities, primarily funded by American taxpayers, maintain dedicated international student offices that support approximately 94,000 active F-1 visa holders and an estimated 15,000-20,000 OPT participants statewide, while career services and visa-sponsorship programs available to all graduates are not specifically tailored to provide comparable employment transition support for domestic students (IIE Open Doors 2024; USCIS SEVIS CY2024; NAFSA estimates);

WHEREAS, major U.S. corporations such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Tesla- receive taxpayer funded contracts (including through federal and state – including Texas Enterprise Fund – grants) while filing thousands of H-1B and L-1A petitions each year, using government-enabled visa programs to bypass American graduates in favor of pre-vetted foreign talent pools, despite pledges to hire locally;

National Security & Reciprocity Failures

WHEREAS, visa holders from countries with a history of intellectual property (IP) theft or violations exploit U.S. resources and innovation, harming American businesses and national security; and

WHEREAS, the ability of H-1B, J-1, F-1, L-1A, and other temporary visa holders to own land in Texas and the United States, especially when American citizens often face restrictions from owning land from the high-usage temporary visa countries, creating an unfair lack of reciprocity and undermining American sovereignty; and

WHEREAS, abuses of visa programs, including H-1B workers engaging in unauthorized side gigs, overstaying visas, and using marriages to American citizens as a pathway to residency (“anchor marriages”), undermine the integrity of U.S. immigration systems; and

Policy Failures & DOL’s America-First Mandate

WHEREAS, the U.S. DOL has pledged to put Americans first and reshore manufacturing, yet visa programs are used to train foreign replacements; and

WHEREAS, B-1 and L-1B exist for short-term training, but H-1B is misused for long-term displacement; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Young Republicans of Texas call for the following actions to prioritize American workers and ensure American sovereignty:

  1. End the H-1B Visa Program and Train Americans: As previously resolved, terminate the H-1B visa program to eliminate the displacement of American workers by foreign labor in high-skill industries. Phase out all new H-1B adjudications within 180 days and honor existing visas only until natural expiration (max 3 years from enactment). Extend H-1B phase-out to TN status, requiring prevailing wage certification. Establish robust training programs, modeled on successful examples like pilot training and veterans’ workforce programs, to equip American workers with the skills needed to fill these roles.
  2. Suspension of All Non-Immigrant Work-Authorized Visas: That Congress invoke its plenary power over immigration to suspend all non-immigrant work-authorized visa categories including H, L, O, P, Q, TN, and E-3-for a minimum of ten years, subject to annual review by the Department of Labor to certify no net displacement of qualified American workers.
  3. Restrict OPT and CPT Programs: Eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for all international students; or, if retained, be strictly limited to a net-zero exchange program with a maximum duration of 12 months post-graduation, matched by equal opportunities for American citizens abroad.
  4. Lifetime Limit and Mandatory Repatriation for F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders: Restrict the F-1 and J-1 visa programs to one lifetime issuance per individual and one degree per individual, with maximum duration of 4 consecutive years for undergraduate programs, 2 consecutive years for graduate programs, and 6 consecutive years for PhD programs. Require mandatory repatriation within 14 days of program completion or visa expiration, with no exceptions, no OPT/CPT eligibility, and no pathway to employment or residency without reapplication from abroad.
  5. Eliminate International Student Programs at Publicly Funded Institutions: Prohibit colleges and universities receiving federal or state funding from maintaining offices or programs dedicated to supporting non-citizens, including those on J-1, F-1, OPT, CPT, or H-1B visas. Redirect these resources to support American students and ensure taxpayer funds prioritize U.S. citizens.
  6. Enhance PhD Oversight and ROI Measurement: Require universities to report annually on the number of international PhD student and their fields of study, with particularly strict oversight for PhD projects funded by taxpayer dollars, requiring universities to demonstrate measurable return on investment (ROI) for research projects, prioritizing those that directly benefit American citizens and the U.S. economy.
  7. PhD Program Oversight and Accountability: Require universities to report annually on the number of international PhD students who fail to complete their programs, including those who drop out early. International students must complete their PhD program within 5 consecutive years, and students who fail to complete their PhD must repay all federal funds received (including but not limited to funds received through stipends, tuition waivers, health insurance, and research grants) with interest at the applicable U.S. Treasury rate or 8% compounded annually, whichever is higher; they will also be permanently barred from any future U.S. work authorization or residency pathway. Unpaid balances shall be treated as federal tax debt, subject to offset against any future U.S. earnings, tax refunds, or Social Security benefits, and trigger passport revocation under 22 U.S.C. § 2714a.
  8. Reform L-1A Intracompany Transferee Visas with Net-Zero Exchange: Allow L-1A visas only under a strictly enforced net-zero exchange program, where the number of foreign L-1A workers entering the U.S. is matched by an equal number of American workers sent abroad for equivalent roles. Include a maximum duration of 24 months and no extensions; requiring certification that overseas posts are newly created, pay prevailing U.S. wage equivalents, and prohibit employer-provided housing, travel, or living allowances.
  9. Enhanced Scrutiny and Caps on EB-1 and O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa Programs: Increase scrutiny of EB-1 and O-1 visa applications to ensure only individuals with truly extraordinary abilities qualify, closing loopholes that allow unqualified applicants to gain permanent residency at the expense of American workers. Cap O-1 at 12 months; require labor market test identical to PERM process.
  10. Prohibit Land Ownership by Temporary Visa Holders with Non-Reciprocity Clause: Enact legislation in Texas and at the federal level to prohibit H-1B, J-1, F-1, L-1A, and other temporary visa holders from purchasing or owning land in the United States. Require divestment of any existing land holdings by temporary visa holders within a specified timeframe.
  11. Heighten Penalties for Intellectual Property (IP) Violations: Impose stricter penalties and visa restrictions on citizens of countries with documented histories of intellectual property theft or violations, including limiting their access to U.S. research institutions, federally funded programs, and employment in sensitive industries to protect American innovation and national security.
  12. Strengthen Penalties for Visa Abuses: Strengthen enforcement and penalties for visa program abuses, including but not limited to: a. H-1B and J-1 workers engaging in unauthorized side gigs, with penalties including visa revocation, fines, and employer sanctions. b. Overstaying visas, with consequences including immediate deportation, fines, and a 10-year reentry ban for first-time offense and a lifetime reentry ban for second-time offense. c. Employers found complicit in visa abuses facing significant fines, loss of government contracts, and restrictions on future visa sponsorship.
  13. Rescission of H-4 and All Non-Immigrant Employment Authorization Documents: Immediately rescind work authorization for H-4 visa holders and all other non-immigrant categories (e.g. asylum applicants, TPS, parolees, and DACA recipients). Phase out DACA EAD renewals over 24 months and provide no pathway to citizenship. Limit L-2/E-2 spouse EAD to nationals of countries that grant identical rights to American spouses abroad.
  14. End “Anchor Marriages”: That temporary visa holders including those on H-1B, J-1, F-1, and L-1A visas be prohibited from using marriage to a U.S. citizen as a pathway to permanent residency, requiring return to their home country and application through standard consular processes abroad.
  15. Promote American Workforce Development: Advocate for increased investment in education, vocational training, and STEM programs for American citizens to ensure they are equipped to fill high-skill, high-paying jobs in industries currently reliant on foreign labor.
  16. Encourage Corporate Accountability: Support policies that incentivize companies to hire American workers, including tax penalties for employers who rely excessively on foreign labor through visa programs, tax penalties for employers who offshore, and rewards for those who prioritize American hiring. The State of Texas to withhold government contracts and occupational licenses from any firm found by DOL to have violated LCA labor condition attestations and thus displacing a qualified American with a visa worker. Cap public entities at 5% of the entity’s total U.S.-based workforce or 200 visa employees nationwide, whichever is lesser, with a 10% reduction in state funding or contract value per each petition exceeding the cap. Require annual public reporting of visa usage and domestic hiring rates by all state contractors, grant recipients, and public entities.
  17. Mandatory Nationwide E-Verify with Criminal Enforcement: That E-Verify be mandated for 100% of U.S. employers within 12 months, with criminal penalties including up to seven years imprisonment and asset forfeiture for knowingly hiring unauthorized workers.
  18. Tariff on Outsourced White-Collar Services Serving U.S. Markets: Advocate for state and federal legislation to impose a progressive tariff on revenues from white-collar services (e.g., IT, consulting, call centers) outsourced to countries with GDP per capita below $30,000 USD or 30% of the U.S. GDP per capita, whichever is higher, and provided to U.S. clients, calculated on imported service value, as follows: a. 200% on the first 10% of U.S. revenue from such services, b. 400% on revenue from 11-25%, c. 600% on revenue above 25%. Require annual certification by the U.S. Department of Labor or IRS, with penalties for non-compliance.
  19. Progressive Penalties and Clawbacks for Offshoring: Apply a progressive tariff structure to offshored U.S. jobs based on U.S. equivalent wage value. Tariff structure recommended on all U.S. jobs offshored to foreign entities, calculated as a percentage of the U.S. equivalent wage value of each displaced position and applied annually to the company’s total offshore payroll serving U.S. operations, as follows: a. 200% on the first 5% of offshored jobs; b. 400% on the next 5% (6-10%); c. 600% on the next 10% (11-20%); d. 800% on the next 30% (21-50%); e. 1,000% on over 50%. Require mandatory clawback of all federal and state incentives received in the prior five years, with annual certification by the U.S. Department of Labor and IRS, and enforcement by the Texas Comptroller for state-level penalties.
  20. Restriction of Training Visas to B-1 and L-1B with Strict Parameters: For reshoring and other initiatives related to U.S. economic development and capabilities, that all foreign worker training be limited exclusively to B-1 business visitor and L-1B intracompany transferee visas, with a maximum duration of three months per individual, strict documentation of training activities, and no allowance for productive work beyond observation and instruction.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Young Republicans of Texas urge federal and state lawmakers, particularly in Texas, to enact legislation and regulations that align with these principles, ensuring that the United States remains a nation unbreakable in its commitment to its citizens, its culture, and its sovereignty. Adopted this 15th day of November, 2025, by the Young Republicans of Texas.

Bibliography

  1. Coolidge, President Calvin, “First Annual Message to Congress” (December 6, 1923). “America must be kept American.”
  2. Economic Policy Institute (EPI), “The H-1B Program: A Wage Suppression Tool” (2024). H-1B workers earn 25-35% less than comparable U.S. workers in the same role and location.
  3. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Underemployment Among Recent STEM Graduates” (2025). Record-high underemployment among U.S.-born STEM degree holders despite foreign talent influx.
  4. Franklin, Benjamin, Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, etc. (1751). Warned against unassimilated immigration.
  5. Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act), 43 Stat. 153 (1924). Established national-origin quotas and reduced annual immigration by over 80% for nearly 40 years.
  6. Institute of International Education (IIE), Open Doors 2024 Report: ~94,000 international students in Texas.
  7. James Madison, Letter to Richard Peters (1790). “The reception of emigrants is benevolent… but the obligation of loyalty lies on their side.”
  8. Kleindienst v. Mandel, 408 U.S. 753 (1972). Supreme Court affirms Congress’s plenary power over immigration with no judicial second-guessing.
  9. National Science Foundation (NSF), Science and Engineering Labor Force Report (2025). Foreign-born individuals now hold over 26% of U.S. STEM jobs, up from 11.2% in 1990.
  10. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Enterprise Fund Recipient List and Performance Reports (2023-2025). Multiple grant recipients filed thousands of H-1B petitions despite hiring commitments.
  11. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), H-1B Employer Data Hub.
  12. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (preliminary 2025). 1.1 million F-1 student visa entries in FY2024; less than 15% return home within 5 years.
  13. U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age (2025). “We will put American workers first and bring manufacturing home.”
  14. U.S. Department of State, Visa Categories: B-1 (Business Visitor) and L-IB (Intracompany Transferee – Specialized Knowledge) (ongoing). Official definitions limit use to short-term training and knowledge transfer.
  15. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), SEVIS by the Numbers CY2024: OPT trends.
  16. World Bank, GDP per Capita (Nominal US$) 2024: Threshold for low-wage countries.
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