Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued new orders to state universities and state agencies. The orders require an immediate suspension of new H-1B visa applications. The suspension will remain in effect until May 31, 2027.
Reason for the Decision
- Governor Abbott stated that the H-1B visa program has been misused. He said a review is necessary to ensure that American jobs are given to American citizens. According to him state-funded institutions must follow this principle especially when taxpayer money is involved.
- In a letter to state agencies Abbott said recent reports show misuse of the visa program. He directed all agencies to stop filing new H-1B visa petitions during the review period.
Concerns About Job Displacement
Abbott said the Texas economy should benefit Texas workers. He claimed that some employers have hired foreign workers even when qualified American workers were available. He also alleged that in some cases employers laid off American workers and replaced them with H-1B employees who accepted lower wages.
H-1B Visa Presence in Texas
Texas has one of the largest numbers of H-1B visa holders in the United States second only to California. Data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shows that more than 40,000 H-1B visas were approved in 2025 for jobs with about 6,100 employers in Texas. Around 1,200 of these visa holders are employed at Texas state universities.
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