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Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, ordered all state agencies and universities on Tuesday to suspend the processing of new H-1B visa applications and initiate a review of the current use of this program, which is intended for highly skilled foreign workers.
The directive follows an order issued by President Donald Trump last year. "The Texas economy should benefit Texas workers and Texas employers," Abbott wrote in the order.
The governor, who has led anti-immigrant strategies in the country, said in a statement that the measure also responds to recent reports of abuse within the federal H-1B visa program, although he did not cite specific cases.
Public universities and state agencies will not be allowed to initiate or submit new H-1B visa applications without written permission from the Texas Workforce Commission until May 31, 2027, when the next legislative session ends.
In addition, the governor requested that agencies and higher education institutions submit detailed reports to the commission by March 27 regarding the H-1B visas currently being sponsored.
He also ordered that efforts be demonstrated to provide qualified Texas candidates a reasonable opportunity to apply for each position covered by an H-1B visa holder before a new application is submitted for that position.
"State government must set the example and ensure that employment opportunities, particularly those funded by taxpayer dollars, are filled by Texans first," Abbott said in the directive.
¿Cuále es la visa H-1B? ¿Quién las solicita?
The H-1B visa category allows employers to request permits for highly skilled foreign professionals to work temporarily in "specialty occupations."
These positions require at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent and include roles such as civil engineers, software developers, and researchers.
Typically, the initial duration of an H-1B visa is three years, but it can be extended up to six years, according to the American Immigration Council.
Since the creation of the visa program in 1990, Congress has limited the number of H-1B visas available each year.
The current annual legal limit is 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 visas for foreign professionals who graduate with a master's or doctoral degree from a U.S. institution of higher education.
Last September, President Donald Trump announced that his administration would impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications.
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