Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. It is designed to address skill gaps in the U.S. workforce while ensuring wage standards to protect both U.S. and H-1B workers. Employers must certify that they will pay H-1B workers wages equal to or greater than those of similarly qualified U.S. employees or the prevailing local wage.
The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%. Locally, employers across all industries located within the SW New Mexico News publication area submitted 48 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 100%.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 35 petitions, representing 72.9% of all submissions in the SW New Mexico News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, which accounted for 12 petitions and represented 25% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, all were approved.
The SW New Mexico News publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024 included New Mexico State University, which filed 26 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Western New Mexico University with four petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Las Cruces Public Schools, which filed two petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the SW New Mexico News publication area saw a 23.9% decrease in the number of H-1B petitions during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
The data in this article comes from the H-1B Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While USCIS strives for accuracy, manual data entry and errors on paper forms submitted by applicants or petitioners may result in discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Educational Services | 35 | 72.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 12 | 25% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 2.1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico State University | Educational Services | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| Las Cruces Physician Practices, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Western New Mexico University | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| LA Clinica DE Familia, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Las Cruces Public Schools | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Three Crosses Regional Hospital LL | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Deming Hospital D B a Mimbres Memorial Hospital & Nursing Home, Corp. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Deming Public Schools | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Encanto Dental Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Familia Dental Las Cruces, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| International Recruiting, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| New Mexico School for the Blind an | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Otero County Hospital Association | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Torc Municipal Schools | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Alerts Sign-up