Texans working in industries that require an occupational license now have to show proof of legal status in the U.S. The new requirement by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) went into effect on May 1, 2026.
The state director of the American Business Immigration Coalition (BIC), Juan Carlos Cerda, says the new rule will further push a vulnerable group into the shadows. As KERA News in North Texas reports, Cerda explained, “They will have to continue trying to get an income because bills don't pay themselves. But at the same time, they are at risk of being liable for practicing without a license.
About 40 occupations are affected by the requirement including cosmetologists,
plumbers, HVAC technicians, and electricians. That includes “Jadira,” a beauty salon owner in Texas. Jadira says she and others feel like they are in legal limbo, without any clear guidance regarding an occupational license. Jadira says she’ll still try to renew her license later this year and hope for the best and hope the life she’s known for the last two decades can continue.
Consequences of practicing without a license include being fined, and renewals being placed on hold or denied. According to a recent report by the Texas Tribune, the state is home to an estimated 1.7 million people without authorization who work in industries regulated by TDLR. Thought of another way, that comes to one in every 20 Texan residents.
