- Governor Abbott has directed Texas state agencies and public universities to freeze H1-B visa petitions that allow employers to hire foreign workers in specialized fields temporarily
- In addition to the freeze on H1-B visa applications, Abbott also directed state agencies and public universities to report data concerning their use of H1-B visas by March 27
- Curtailing abuse of the H1-B visa program has also been a priority of the Trump administration
Earlier today, Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive to all Texas state agency heads to freeze H-1B visa petitions. The H-1B visa program is designed to allow American employers to hire foreign workers temporarily in specialized fields where there is a shortage of American workers. However, recent reports indicate that some employers have abused the program to hire workers from foreign countries who command salaries below those of their American counterparts in fields where there is not a shortage of American labor.
“The economy of Texas should work for the benefit of Texas workers and Texas employers,” reads the directive. “In light of recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa program, and amid the federal government’s ongoing review of that program to ensure American jobs are going to American workers, I am directing all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions as outlined in this letter. State government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities — particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars — are filled by Texans first.”
Under Abbott’s directive, state agencies and public universities shall be prohibited from filing any new H-1B visa petitions without written permission from the Texas Workforce Commission until the next regular session of the Texas Legislature concludes on May 31, 2027. The agencies and public universities will also be required to compile data regarding their usage of H-1B visas and submit a report to the Texas Workforce Commission by March 27, 2026.
Curtailing H1-B visa abuse has also been a priority of the Trump administration. On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a Proclamation entitled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” that imposed a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions.
“The H-1B nonimmigrant visa program was created to bring temporary workers into the United States to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor. The large-scale replacement of American workers through systemic abuse of the program has undermined both our economic and national security. Some employers, using practices now widely adopted by entire sectors, have abused the H-1B statute and its regulations to artificially suppress wages, resulting in a disadvantageous labor market for American citizens, while at the same time making it more difficult to attract and retain the highest skilled subset of temporary workers, with the largest impact seen in critical science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields,” reads President Trump’s Proclamation.
