Gov. Greg Abbott issued a letter on Jan. 27 to agency heads in Texas directing them to pause all H-1B visa petitions.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, H-1B visas are non-immigrant visas that allow skilled workers to fill specialty occupations, which it defines as jobs requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Abbott’s letter comes after President Donald Trump issued a proclamation in September to restrict H-1B visas.
Under Trump’s proclamation, employers seeking to hire people on H-1B visas must pay a fee of $100,000 to sponsor the workers visa petition.
According to Abbott’s letter, new H-1Bs can be approved, but only by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The restrictions are set to last until May 31, 2027, which is the last day of the 90th Texas Legislative Session.
“These steps will provide time for the Texas Legislature to establish statutory guardrails for future employment practices regarding federal visa holders in state government, for the U.S. Congress to modify federal law, and for the Trump Administration to implement reforms aimed at eliminating abuse of this visa program,” the letter reads.
The letter also demands that agencies and universities audit their usage of H-1B visas and report their findings to the TWC. Things required to be reported include the total number of H-1B petitions in 2025, the number of current H-1B holders employed, what those H-1B holders are currently employed to do and their country of origin.
Abbott claims his demands are to prioritize creating jobs for skilled Texas workers.
“Texas state agencies and institutions of higher education collectively employ hundreds of thousands of Texans and have a significant role in shaping the State’s labor market,” the letter reads. “State government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities—particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars—are filled by Texans first.”
Texas State University spokesperson Jayme Blaschke was unable to provide The Star with the number of current employees using an H-1B visa.
“Texas State University is aware of the letter issued today by Governor Greg Abbott regarding the H-1B directives,” Blaschke wrote in an email to The Star. “The university is reviewing the order, addressing the questions raised, and taking steps to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements.”
