Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas state agencies and public universities to halt new H-1B visa petitions until next year, starting Tuesday, according to a letter he sent to state agencies and universities.
The pause applies only to state agencies and public universities and is scheduled to last until May 31, 2027. Abbott’s order allows exceptions if the Texas Workforce Commission grants permission.
In the letter, Abbott wrote, “State government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities — particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars — are filled by Texans first.” He said the freeze would give lawmakers time to “establish statutory guardrails” for employment under the visa program, allow Congress to modify federal law, and allow program reforms by the Trump administration to be implemented.
Supporters and critics disagree over what the H-1B program is doing and what a pause would mean. Critics argue that it has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay and that it is taking job opportunities from Americans. Supporters say it is crucial to attract top global talent, fill specialized roles and drive innovation, and they argue that a pause could worsen existing staffing shortages and hinder universities’ ability to recruit talent.
In a written statement, Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., a Democrat and chairman of the Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said, “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 also said H-1B visa holders are “Texans in every way that matters,” adding that they are professionals who “work hard, follow the rules and contribute to our economy.”
Abbott said he plans to review the program’s use and asked agencies and universities to provide information including the number of new or renewed H-1B visa petitions last year, which visa holders are currently sponsored, job titles, countries of origin and visa expiration dates. He also asked for documentation showing employers made an effort to give “qualified Texans candidates with reasonable opportunity to apply” for positions filled by H-1B holders.
The order comes as other Republican-led states have moved on H-1B hiring. AP reported that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for fewer H-1B hires last year, alleging abuse of the program to fill roles that are not specialized. The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s public university system, is scheduled to discuss pausing the use of the H-1B program to hire new personnel until next year.
The H-1B dispute is also playing out at the federal level. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation last year imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is being challenged in court.
The visas, created by the 1990 Immigration Act, allow American companies to bring in people with technical skills that are hard to find in the U.S. They are good for three years and can be extended for 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, and some employers, such as universities and nonprofits, are exempt from the limits.
Texas institutions reported to have H-1B visa holders include the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, with 228 visa holders based on data reported by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in September. Texas A&M University in College Station had 214; the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston had 171; the University of Texas at Austin had 169; and Texas Tech University in Lubbock had 143. The Associated Press reported university staff did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the pause.
Nationwide, AP reported that Pew Research Center found at least 60% of H-1B visas approved since 2012 have been for computer-related jobs. Last year, Amazon was the top recipient, with more than 10,000 visas approved, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google. In Texas, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation had the most H-1B visas in the state with 3,172.