Based on Revolver News' investigation titled "Great 'Overnight' Replacement: The (Federal) Express Decline and Fall of Collierville, TN," a significant transformation has been occurring in this Tennessee community following FedEx's increased hiring of H-1B foreign workers after securing a substantial federal contract. The article paints a picture of rapid demographic and economic shifts that have residents concerned about their community's future.
According to the report, Revolver News details how FedEx dramatically increased its H-1B visa hiring following a $2.24 billion federal contract award. Data cited in related reports shows the company went from approximately two dozen approved H-1B visa workers to roughly 500 by 2025. This expansion coincided with multiple rounds of layoffs affecting hundreds of American employees across various FedEx locations, including layoffs in Tennessee, Texas, and other states.
In Collierville specifically, the article describes a dramatic change in community dynamics. The article includes resident testimonies highlighting concerns about the sudden demographic shifts: "The H-1B visas have drastically changed the demographics of our small town way too quickly," one resident states. "It is certainly taking its toll on the community; people are starting to move farther out or just leave the area."
The Revolver News investigation suggests this phenomenon isn't isolated to Collierville. A former resident of nearby Cordova reportedly witnessed a similar pattern before moving out of state, claiming: "Almost everyone working in the City of Memphis IT department is an H-1B visa Indian. They did a full purge of their white employees in 2020."
The publication indicates the article is part of a series examining how the H-1B system "built a shadow workforce and labor market inside the reddest part of Tennessee," suggesting a systematic replacement of American workers with foreign visa holders.
FedEx has publicly responded to these allegations, stating they are committed to compliance with all federal immigration laws and emphasize that not all visa approvals result in employment. A company spokesperson noted that FedEx "employs a wide range of roles, requiring a variety of skillsets," and maintained their compliance with all applicable federal immigration laws.
However, the timing of the H-1B increases following the $2.24 billion federal contract has raised questions about whether these foreign workers are replacing American employees rather than supplementing the workforce. The report suggests that American employees were allegedly forced to train their foreign replacements before being terminated, a pattern characteristic of controversial replacement practices.
The Revolver News article claims this situation represents how the H-1B visa program has been allegedly manipulated to create what the publication calls a "shadow workforce and labor market," particularly in politically conservative areas of Tennessee.
While the Revolver News article focuses specifically on the Collierville situation, related coverage has expanded the story to national attention, with discussions appearing on various platforms and social media. Some reports with different perspectives have noted the roles being filled by H-1B workers might be different from those eliminated during company restructuring.
The investigation highlights growing tensions between corporate immigration practices and community stability, particularly in smaller towns like Collierville that experience rapid demographic changes when large employers like FedEx shift their hiring strategies following significant federal contracts.
*Note: This report is based on the article title and excerpts from Revolver News, supplemented by related coverage of the broader FedEx H-1B controversy.*
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer
