Texas halts H-1B visas at state colleges, agencies to protect American workers

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered an immediate freeze on new H-1B visa petitions across Texas state agencies and universities, citing reported abuse of the federal programme and the need to ensure American jobs go to American workers.

"In light of recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa programme, and amid the federal government's ongoing review of that programme to ensure American jobs are going to American workers, I am directing all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions," Abbott said in a letter to agency heads.

Abbott said the Texas economy must work for the benefit of Texas workers and Texas employers, stressing that state government should lead by example when it comes to hiring practices, particularly for jobs funded by taxpayers.

The governor pointed to President Donald Trump’s proclamation on restricting certain non-immigrant workers, noting that the H-1B programme was created to supplement the United States’ workforce, not to replace it.

"Evidence suggests that bad actors have exploited this programme by failing to make good-faith efforts to recruit qualified US workers before seeking to use foreign labor," Abbott said. In some cases, he added, employers have even fired American workers and replaced them with H-1B employees, often at lower wages.

Abbott argued that the programme has increasingly been used to fill jobs that otherwise could and should have been filled by Texans, rather than attracting the best and brightest individuals from around the world for truly specialised roles.

Under the directive, no state agency led by a gubernatorially appointed head, or any public institution of higher education, may initiate or file new H-1B visa petitions without written permission from the Texas Workforce Commission until the end of the Texas Legislature’s 90th Regular Session on May 31, 2027.

Abbott also ordered all affected agencies and universities to submit a detailed report to the Texas Workforce Commission by March 27, 2026.

The report must outline the number of H-1B petitions filed in 2025, the number of visa holders currently sponsored, their countries of origin, job classifications, visa expiration dates, and documentation showing efforts to recruit qualified Texas candidates before hiring foreign workers.

The Texas Workforce Commission has been directed to issue any guidance needed to implement the order.

The H-1B visa programme allows foreign professionals in specialised occupations, especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, to work in the United States. The programme issues 65,000 visas each year, along with an additional 20,000 slots for applicants holding advanced degrees, typically valid for three to six years.

Last year, President Donald Trump imposed a new one-time fee of $100,000 on fresh H-1B applicants as part of his second-term immigration push. The measure was challenged in court by more than 20 US states, though Texas did not join the lawsuit.

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