Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a sweeping directive requiring all public universities and state agencies across Texas to cease filing new H-1B visa petitions without explicit written permission from the Texas Workforce Commission. This significant policy shift will remain in effect through the conclusion of the 2027 legislative session, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
Immediate Impact on Foreign Workers and State Institutions
The governor's order directly affects foreign professionals seeking specialized employment roles at taxpayer-funded institutions throughout the state. During a conversation with conservative radio host Mark Davis, Governor Abbott articulated his skepticism regarding the necessity of H-1B visa employees within Texas public schools. He stated, "I don't see any reason why we need any H-1B visa employees in our public schools in the state of Texas. But we're going to find out if there's some unique skill set or whatever the case may be."
This freeze represents a component of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring that positions financed with public funds are prioritized for qualified Texas residents. Governor Abbott has mandated that agencies and universities submit comprehensive reports to the Texas Workforce Commission. These reports must include:
- The number of new or renewed H-1B petitions filed in 2025
- The current count of visa holders being sponsored
- Detailed job titles and descriptions
- Countries of origin for visa holders
- Visa expiration dates
Furthermore, institutions are required to demonstrate concrete efforts to provide Texas residents with a reasonable opportunity to apply for positions currently occupied by H-1B visa holders.
University Compliance and System Responses
Major university systems across Texas have begun implementing the governor's directive. The Texas A&M University System confirmed it has already discontinued sponsoring new H-1B visa petitions that would require the $100,000 federal fee originally imposed during the Trump administration. Chris Bryan, Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications, affirmed, "We have received Governor Abbott's directive ordering a freeze on new H-1B visa petitions at Texas public institutions of higher education, and we are fully complying with that directive."
Similarly, the University of Texas System and its thirteen constituent institutions have submitted their comprehensive H-1B visa information to the governor's office. Randa Safady, Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services, explained, "The institutions are complying with the Governor's directive by freezing new H-1B applications and will await further guidance on how the submission of requests to the Texas Workforce Commission for future hires may work."
Financial Expenditures and Employment Data
Internal communications obtained by The Texas Tribune reveal that Governor Abbott's office specifically requested detailed data from Texas A&M University System leaders regarding employees working under H-1B visas. This request followed investigative reporting by the Dallas Express, which had pursued public records for several months before filing a formal complaint with the Texas attorney general.
Financial records indicate substantial state expenditures on visa sponsorships. Texas A&M University reportedly allocated approximately $3.25 million for H-1B visa sponsorships over a five-year period, while the University of Texas at Dallas spent about $1.1 million during a comparable timeframe.
Federal employment data highlights significant H-1B usage within Texas educational institutions:
- Dallas Independent School District employs 230 H-1B visa holders
- UT Southwestern Medical Center employs 220 H-1B visa holders
- Texas A&M University employs 210 H-1B visa holders
Other major employers include UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Texas at Austin, though specific numbers were not detailed in the report.
Broader Implications for International Professionals
The H-1B visa program enables American employers to hire foreign workers for specialized positions requiring at least a bachelor's degree. Universities and academic medical centers frequently utilize these visas to employ professors, researchers, physicians, and other highly trained professionals. Miriam Feldblum, co-founder and CEO of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, noted that recent federal policies, including the substantial $100,000 fee, have already created challenges for the competitive positioning of American universities in the global academic landscape.
Governor Abbott suggested during his interview that some visa holders may have been admitted under previous presidential administrations and could potentially have overstayed their authorized periods. He remarked, "Those, again, are the type of people that the Trump administration is trying to remove."
National Context and Parallel State Actions
Texas is not operating in isolation regarding scrutiny of H-1B usage within public institutions. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis implemented similar measures last year, directing the state's public university system to curtail H-1B employment. Governor DeSantis argued that universities were misusing the program and that American citizens should receive priority in hiring considerations. The Florida Board of Governors is currently evaluating a proposal to pause new H-1B hires through early 2027, mirroring the timeline established in Texas.
This coordinated approach among states reflects growing political attention to immigration policies affecting specialized employment sectors, particularly within publicly funded institutions where taxpayer dollars directly support operational budgets and staffing decisions.
