Hey, let's talk about something big happening in Texas that could affect a lot of people, and not just those with fancy degrees. Governor Greg Abbott has put Texas public K-12 schools and universities on notice. He wants to know exactly who they've hired using H-1B visas and if your tax dollars are paying for them. Now, H-1B visas let employers bring in foreign workers for specialized jobs. Think professors, top-tier researchers, or even doctors at our big medical centers like UT Southwestern and MD Anderson. These are folks with specific skills, usually needing a bachelor's degree or higher. It's how universities often get the best and brightest from around the globe. Even some K-12 districts, like Dallas ISD, use them for specialized roles. The Governor's office fired off emails to institutions, including the Texas A&M University System, asking for detailed info by last Monday. They wanted to know job roles, countries of origin, the whole nine yards. Abbott even went on a radio show to say he doesn't really see why Texas public schools need H-1B employees, unless there's some really unique skill involved. He's expecting to announce an "action plan" soon based on what they find. He also tossed out the idea that some visa holders might have overstayed their welcome, perhaps from previous federal administrations, and suggested these are the types of people the Trump administration aims to remove. That's a strong statement, and it really kicks up questions about state versus federal authority when it comes to immigration enforcement. This all follows a conservative news outlet, The Dallas Express, pushing for public records on Texas A&M's H-1B use for months. They even filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office to get the information. So, it's not a new issue, but the Governor's direct involvement definitely escalates things. From a legal standpoint, you've got to wonder about the Governor's power to demand such specific employee data from state-funded institutions. While he oversees state agencies, public universities often have a degree of autonomy. What happens if they don't comply fully or quickly? And what about potential privacy concerns for these employees? Then there's the bigger picture: If Texas decides to restrict who these institutions can hire, what's the economic fallout? Advocates for higher education are already saying this could really hurt Texas's ability to innovate and attract world-class talent. Miriam Feldblum, from the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, pointed out that current federal fees for H-1B hires already make it tough for U.S. universities to compete globally. Making it harder at the state level could just make things worse. Basically, this isn't just about jobs; it's about immigration policy, state authority, economic competitiveness, and the future of research and education in Texas. It's a complex situation, and we'll be watching closely to see what that "action plan" looks like and what legal challenges might follow.