Frank Rondel
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an immediate directive requiring all state universities and agencies to halt the submission of new H-1B visa petitions until the conclusion of the 2027 legislative session, reports customreceipt.com via KBTX. The governor’s office cited “recent reports of abuse” in the program as the reason for the freeze and called for a comprehensive review of all current H-1B visa holders within state-controlled agencies and public higher education institutions.
The H-1B visa program, administered under the U.S. Department of Labor, allows American employers to temporarily hire foreign professionals for positions requiring specialized expertise and at least a bachelor’s degree. The program is designed to address labor shortages in fields where qualified domestic workers are insufficient and is commonly utilized by public universities and academic medical centers.
H-1B Visa Program Letter 1.27.2026 State Agency Heads by KBTX
Reports from the Quorum Report and the Texas Tribune indicate that Abbott’s administration requested the Texas A&M University System to provide detailed records of employees currently employed under H-1B visas by the close of business on Monday. Texas A&M was closed on that day due to severe winter weather, and it remains unclear if the documents were submitted on time. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data show that Texas A&M employs 214 H-1B visa holders, ranking it as the 17th-largest H-1B employer in the state. Additionally, Texas A&M AgriLife Research employs 55 nonimmigrant workers under the program. Other agencies in Brazos Valley affiliated with Texas A&M, including the Engineering Experiment Station, Transportation Institute, AgriLife Extension Service, Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, and the Forest Service, are also active H-1B users.
The freeze encompasses all state agencies and public universities under state-appointed administration. While organizations such as the 12th Man Foundation and the Association of Former Students each have one H-1B visa employee, their independently appointed boards manage leadership decisions separately.
State agencies are now required to submit comprehensive reports to the Texas Workforce Commission by March 27, 2026. Reports must include employee job classifications, countries of origin, and documentation of recruitment efforts aimed at hiring Texas candidates before sponsoring foreign workers.
The move mirrors actions taken in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis initiated a similar crackdown on H-1B visas in higher education last year, urging institutions to prioritize American graduates and suspend H-1B visa sponsorship. Later this week, Florida’s Board of Governors for state universities is expected to vote on a ban extending into early 2027.
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