New hurdle for H-1B workers as Texas Governor wants total ban in public schools

After ordering a freeze on H-1B hiring at state institutions of higher education in Texas in January, Governor Greg Abbott is now seeking to extend his crackdown to public schools across the state. Seven months later, Abbott says Texas lawmakers should also move to block foreign funding and influence in classrooms. He wants school districts to be barred from employing workers through the federal H-1B visa programme, arguing that students should not be exposed to foreign influence in their schools.

The Republican governor has asked state lawmakers to prohibit public school districts from employing workers through the federal H-1B visa programme and to stop schools from accepting gifts, money or property from foreign sources.

"The minds of our students are driven by influences that they are exposed to in our public schools," Abbott said, as quoted by Breitbart. "Those minds should be shaped by policies that are approved by state lawmakers."

ABBOTT TARGETS ISLAMIC, CHINESE INFLUENCE IN SCHOOLS

When H-1B visas make headlines, Indian tech workers are usually at the centre of the debate. This time, however, the focus has shifted to Islamic and Chinese influence in education in Texas. The Republican governor has specifically raised concerns about foreign money and programmes operating in Texas schools.

According to US-based outlet Breitbart, the Austin Independent School District accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from Qatar to support Arabic language and cultural instruction. Some Texas school districts have also participated in Confucius Classroom programmes linked to Chinese government-backed organisations.

Abbott said schools should not allow foreign funding or programmes to shape what children are exposed to in classrooms.

"We cannot condone the quiet indoctrination of our children in the classroom," Abbott said.

He is asking the Texas Legislature to prohibit public schools from accepting gifts, money or property from foreign sources. His proposal would also seek to restrict schools from entering into contracts with foreign governments, companies, organisations or individuals.

TEXAS GOVERNOR WANTS H-1B WORKERS OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Abbott has made clear that his proposal is not simply to reduce H-1B hiring. He wants the number of H-1B workers employed by Texas public schools to be zero.

"Exactly zero Texas public school employees should be here on H-1B visas. This expands on my prior directive, freezing new H-1B visa petitions in all state agencies and all state universities." Abbott said. He criticised the federal government for failing to put enough limits on the programme and said that has left Texas with little choice but to take action on its own.

"We're tired of the federal government not putting limits on who can come in under H-1Bs, and because of the federal government's failure to control H-1B visas, Texas is having to put our foot down," Abbott said.

"We need to find Texans or Americans who can educate our students. Period."

H-1B VISA PROGRAMME BECOMES GOP FLASHPOINT

The fight over H-1B visas is gaining momentum in Republican-led states, with Texas emerging as one of the strongest voices against the programme. The H-1B visa allows highly skilled foreign professionals to live and work in the US for a limited period. Indian professionals, particularly those working in the technology sector, make up a large share of those receiving the visas.

In fiscal year 2025, Indians accounted for about 220,000 of the 290,000 H-1B visa extensions granted. That works out to roughly 78 per cent of all beneficiaries.

Yet the debate is unfolding against a different backdrop in Texas. According to an analysis cited by Newsweek, H-1B-related filings increased in several Republican-held congressional districts in the state between fiscal years 2019 and 2025. The analysis by jobs and layoffs tracking platform LayoffHedge used federal labour data. It found that H-1B demand rose sharply in several Republican-held suburban districts, even as the programme faced growing political opposition.

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