Texas freezes H-1B hiring: Governor directs state agencies, universities to halt visa petitions

Texas politician Greg Abbott connected Tuesday ordered authorities agencies and nationalist universities to halt caller H-1B visa hiring.This marks a large setback for overseas professionals seeking to enactment successful US, particularly successful the Red state.In a missive sent to bureau heads, Abbott directed each authorities bodies to instantly frost caller H-1B petitions, citing 'abuse' of the visa programme. The frost volition stay successful spot until May 31, 2027, with constricted exceptions requiring written support from the Texas Workforce Commission.Abbott said helium volition enactment to guarantee that lone Americans get American jobs successful his statement: “In airy of caller reports of maltreatment successful the national H-1B visa program, and amid the national government’s ongoing reappraisal of that programme to guarantee American jobs are going to American workers, I americium directing each authorities agencies to instantly frost caller H-1B visa petitions.”

The politician besides instructed agencies and universities to taxable elaborate reports by March 27, 2026. These indispensable see 1) How galore caller and renewal H-1B petitions were filed successful 2025, 2) How galore visa holders are presently sponsored, their occupation roles, and their countries of origin.Abbott doubled down connected his presumption successful a station connected X: “Texas taxpayers put billions to bid our workforce; those jobs should spell to Texans.”