Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he is investigating nearly 30 North Texas businesses for visa fraud, an escalation of a probe he announced earlier this year.
Paxton is specifically targeting H-1B visas, which allow companies to recruit and hire foreign workers in specialized fields such as information technology and medicine.
The program, which once received broad bipartisan support, has come under fire in recent months by the Trump administration and some conservative lawmakers in Texas.
Paxton’s announcement Thursday comes after conservative influencers flooded Frisco and other North Texas cities, alleging visa fraud and an “Indian takeover.” Indian applicants account for nearly two-thirds of approved H-1B visas.
On X, Paxton thanked one influencer, Sara Gonzales, who in January posted a video on X titled “I Exposed a MAJOR H-1B Visa Scam in Texas,” in which she visited offices and knocked on doors asking for visa and business details. Gonzales and other influencers say they found vacant “ghost offices” associated with visa applications.
“I will not allow the H-1B program to be abused by bad actors seeking to use it as a loophole for allowing foreign nationals to invade Texas,” Paxton said in a statement. “My office will continue working to uncover and put an end to fraud with the H-1B program.”
As part of the investigation, Paxton issued civil investigative demands, asking the companies to hand over documents identifying all employees, records detailing the specific products or services they provide, financial statements and communications related to company operations.
The businesses include Tekpro IT and Fame PBX, both in Plano, 1st Ranking Technologies in Lewisville, Qubitz Tech Systems in Irving, Blooming Clouds in Horseshoe Bay, Virat Solutions in Frisco, Oak Technologies in Irving, Techpath Inc. in Irving, and Techquency in Cedar Park.
None of the businesses immediately responded to phone calls or emails Thursday from The Dallas Morning News.
Paxton’s office also did not immediately respond to an email from The News asking for additional details, including a full list of the business.
Paxton, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn, has filed a flurry of lawsuits and investigations in recent months that align with the Trump administration’s priorities. Last year, the attorney general announced investigations into cereal and candy makers over artificial food dye.
In October, he sued the makers of Tylenol, accusing the company of failing to warn consumers about risks of taking the drug while pregnant. The company said the lawsuit lacked “legal merit and scientific support.”