Texas Governor Abbott Halts H-1B Visa Applications Until 2027

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a freeze on new H-1B visa applications for state agencies and public universities until May 31, 2027. This decision, which aims to prioritize employment for Texas residents, comes as part of a broader review of the visa program’s effectiveness and utilization across the state.

The directive, communicated in a letter to heads of state agencies, mandates that no new H-1B visa filings are to be initiated without explicit permission from the Texas Workforce Commission. Governor Abbott’s actions reflect increasing scrutiny of the H-1B program, which has faced criticism for not adequately prioritizing U.S. workers when filling specialized roles.

Abbott’s initiative is designed to ensure that employers, including educational institutions and state agencies, focus on recruiting qualified Texans before seeking foreign labor. The governor’s letter indicates a commitment to allowing time for state lawmakers to develop “guardrails” that would reform the H-1B process and facilitate improvements at the federal level.

The freeze comes amid a national dialogue on the regulation of visa programs, influenced in part by previous attempts under the Trump administration to reform the H-1B system. Proposed changes during that time included significant fee increases for new applicants and a shift in visa allocation to favor higher-paying roles requiring specialized skills. Abbott’s administration emphasizes the need for a transparent program that aligns with established rules and ensures job necessity.

The ramifications of this directive could be particularly pronounced for Texas’ higher education and healthcare sectors, which are heavily reliant on H-1B visa holders. Institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and the Dallas Independent School District have historically sponsored a significant number of H-1B visas.

Under the new directive, state agencies must provide comprehensive data to the Texas Workforce Commission regarding their H-1B sponsorships. This includes the number of visa holders, their countries of origin, job classifications, and records of recruitment efforts targeting local candidates. This data collection aims to create a clearer picture of H-1B visa usage in Texas and to inform future decisions regarding the program.

Governor Abbott’s freeze on H-1B visa applications has sparked discussions about the workforce development landscape in Texas. As the state evaluates the impact of the H-1B program on job availability for residents, the outcomes of this review may lead to significant changes in how specialized roles are filled in the future. The governor’s focus on prioritizing local talent underscores a growing trend among policymakers to reassess immigration policies in light of domestic labor needs.