Why Texas is Great for Immigration

The governor's office has identified just a few of the reasons Texas attracts employers and investors from across the world:

• Texas has recently been named as one of the top-five biotechnology economic development regions in the U.S. (FierceBiotech, February 2008)
• Texas has ranked as the No. 1 U.S. exporting state for six straight years. Texas’ exports were approximately $168 billion in 2007, representing an 11.45 percent increase from 2006.(WISERTrade, February 2008)
• For the third straight year, the nation’s leading executives rank Texas as the best state in which to do business, applauding the state for controlling taxes and spending as well as for its positive regulatory burden, quality of life and infrastructure. (Chief Executive Magazine, January 2008)
• Texas continues to lead the nation in wind capacity added to the electric grid. Texas’ cumulative windgenerating capacity (4,356 MW) is 26 percent of all wind power installed in the U.S. (American Wind Energy Association, January 2008)
• Texas dominated Forbes’ “Best Cities for Jobs in 2008” list, with five cities in the top 20. Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas ranked high among the places economists forecast are the best to work in the U.S. in 2008. McAllen, Texas, is expected to have the highest job growth rate of the 100 cities evaluated. (Forbes, January 2008)
• Texas was named the 2007 State of the Year by Business Facilities magazine. The first annual ranking singles out the state with the most economically significant relocation and expansion projects of the year. (Business Facilities, December 2007)
• Texas was named the No. 1 state in the 2007 Legislative Quotient by Expansion Management magazine for the most business-friendly legislative climate. (Expansion Management, December 2007)
• Texas ranked No. 1 according to corporate real estate executives across the country polled for the Executive Survey Business Climate Rankings 2007. (Site Selection, November 2007)
• Texas is the No. 1 biodiesel-producing state, growing its capacity from 120 million gallons annually to 280 million gallons in 2007. (National Biodiesel Board)
• The Texas Emerging Technology Fund was a finalist in the 2007 Council of State Governments Innovation Awards. (State News, November/December 2007)
• Texas dominated the FORTUNE 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list for 2007. The Lone Star State had eight companies in the top 25 and 32 total companies on the list – more than any other state. (FORTUNE, September 2007)
• Texas has 38 companies on the Inc. 500 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. Texas has 72 companies on the new “expanded” Inc. 5,000 list. (Inc., August 2007)
• Texas leads the nation with the most companies (23) on the 2007 HispanicBusiness 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list. Texas had two companies in the top 10. (HispanicBusiness, July/Aug 2007)
• Forbes magazine recently ranked Texas in the top five of the 2007 Best States for Business. (Forbes, July 2007)
• CNBC ranked Texas second overall on its list of America’s Top States for Business. Texas made it into the top 10 in six individual categories of the ranking: Economy, Access to Capital, Cost of Living, Technology & Innovation, Transportation, and Workforce. (CNBC, July 2007)
• Texas had the largest number of fastest-growing small public companies with 15 – more than any state on FORTUNE Small Business’ FSB 100 list. Six of Texas’ small companies were in the top 25. (FORTUNE Small Business, July 2007)
• Texas ranks second for the number of international trade-related jobs in U.S. states, according to a report published by the Business Roundtable, a non-profit association of leading companies’ CEOs. (Business Roundtable, June 2007)
• Texas won the Silver Shovel award in the over 10 million population category. The shovel awards are based on information about 10 of the top job-creating and investment projects in 2006. (Area Development, June/July 2007)
• Texas ranked No. 1 for the number of firms on the 2007 FORTUNE 1,000 list, with 111 companies. The Lone Star State is home to 56 of the nation’s FORTUNE 500 companies. (FORTUNE, May 2007)

Updated: Feb. 28, 2008

Immigration in Texas

Texas ranks among the top destinations for arriving immigrants and nonimmigrants. According to Department of Homeland Security statistics, one half of all lawful permanent residents settled in either California, New York or Texas. As of 2006, over 1 million lawful permanent residents called Texas home. With over 77,000 new lawful permanent residents in 2007, Texas maintained its ranking as the fourth highest state of destination for new immigrants.

Help with Immigration in Texas

D.Ray Mantle assists Texas families and businesses in obtaining positive immigration results in a timely, personal and professional manner. Your individual circumstances are carefully reviewed by an experienced immigration attorney to determine which options are available. Mr. Mantle provides guidance and informed legal counsel on the immigration needs of employers, local governments, and individuals. Learn more about how an experienced immigration attorney can help you reach your immigration goals: Why MantleWorks.