Immigration

Newsworthy News -   Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has reversed a 25-year policy, stripping undocumented immigrants of their ability to obtain occupational licenses across 46 regulated professions—a move that could affect over 778,000 licensees and ripple through the state’s construction, personal services, and small business sectors.

AG Paxton’s new legal opinion overturns a 2001 interpretation, barring undocumented immigrants from obtaining occupational licenses in Texas effective January 26, 2026.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation now requires proof of lawful presence for license applicants across dozens of fields including electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists, and CDL drivers.

State Senator Sarah Eckhardt warns the rule is a voluntary policy choice—not federally mandated—that threatens 778,000+ current licensees and millions of Texas consumers who depend on their services.

Texas simultaneously expanded licensing pathways for legally present foreign-trained doctors through HB 2038, revealing a two-track approach based on immigration status rather than citizenship alone.