Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas universities and state agencies on Tuesday to halt new H-1B visa petitions, which employers use to hire foreign workers with specialized skills, until May 31, 2027. The pause applies to new petitions at state-funded institutions and comes as the Trump administration pursues broader changes to the visa program.
Abbott said in his order that “state government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities — particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars — are filled by Texans first.”
The pause reflects competing views on the H-1B program. Critics, including some Republicans, argue it has become a vehicle for hiring overseas workers willing to accept lower salaries, displacing American job seekers. Supporters say the program is essential to attract top global talent, fill specialized roles, and drive innovation — particularly in higher education and health care.
Abbott’s order applies only to new H-1B visa petitions at Texas state agencies and public universities. The Texas Workforce Commission can grant exceptions to the freeze on a case-by-case basis.
The governor said the freeze will give state lawmakers time to “establish statutory guardrails” for the visa program, allow Congress to modify federal law, and permit “program reforms by the Trump administration to be implemented.”
Abbott ordered state agencies and universities to provide information about H-1B visa usage, including the number of new or renewed petitions last year, visa holders currently sponsored, job titles, countries of origin, and visa expiration dates. He also requested documentation showing that employers made efforts to give “qualified Texans candidates with reasonable opportunity to apply” for positions filled by H-1B holders.
Opposition and Support
Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., a Democrat and chairman of the Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said the freeze will harm the state’s universities, research centers, and hospitals.
“Freezing those pathways makes it harder to staff classrooms, research centers, and hospitals across our state, raising costs, straining public services, and hurting Texans in every corner of our state,” Romero said in a written statement.
Romero characterized H-1B visa holders as “Texans in every way that matters” — professionals who “work hard, follow the rules and contribute to our economy.”
H-1B Use in Texas
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas holds the most H-1B visas among Texas public universities, with 228 visa holders. Other Texas institutions with significant H-1B populations include Texas A&M University in College Station with 214; the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston with 171; the University of Texas at Austin with 169; and Texas Tech University in Lubbock with 143.
Across all employers, at least 60% of H-1B visas approved since 2012 have been for computer-related jobs, according to the Pew Research Center. In Texas, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation — a multinational information technology company — has the most H-1B visas in the state with 3,172.
National Context
Abbott is not the sole Republican governor acting on H-1B concerns. Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for fewer H-1B hires, alleging abuse of the program to fill nonspecialized roles. On Thursday, Florida’s Board of Governors was scheduled to discuss pausing the use of the H-1B program to hire new personnel until next year.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers. That action is being challenged in court.
How the Program Works
Created by the 1990 Immigration Act, H-1B visas allow American companies to bring in people with technical skills difficult to find domestically. The visas are valid for three years and can be extended another three years. The number of new visas issued annually is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a master’s degree or higher. Universities and nonprofits are exempt from the numerical limits.
Nationally, Amazon was the top H-1B visa recipient last year with more than 10,000 visas approved, followed by the Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple, and Google.