Highlights:
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Texas governor Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies and public universities to suspend new H-1B visa petitions until May 2027
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The freeze applies unless written approval is granted by the Texas Workforce Commission
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Institutions must report details on existing H-1B visa holders, including roles, origin countries, and visa expiry dates
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The move aligns with broader federal restrictions affecting skilled immigration, particularly Indian professionals
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Texas governor Greg Abbott has directed all state agencies and public universities to immediately halt the filing of new H-1B visa petitions, a decision that significantly tightens hiring rules across taxpayer-funded institutions in the state. The order, issued on Tuesday (27), is set to remain in force until May 2027 unless agencies receive specific written approval from the Texas Workforce Commission.
The decision is expected to affect thousands of foreign professionals working or seeking employment in Texas, with Indian nationals likely to be the most impacted due to their large representation among H-1B visa holders. Texas employs tens of thousands of skilled foreign workers across technology, healthcare, engineering, and academic research, many of whom rely on the H-1B visa program to work in the United States.
Texas H-1B visa freeze and state agencies
In a letter outlining the directive, Abbott said the freeze reflects growing concerns about misuse of the federal H-1B visa program and coincides with an ongoing federal review of skilled worker visas. The governor framed the move as a step to ensure that employment opportunities funded by taxpayers prioritize domestic workers.
“In light of recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa program, and amid the federal government’s ongoing review of that program, I am directing all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions,” Abbott said.
The order applies broadly to all Texas state agencies as well as public universities and higher education systems. While the directive does not cancel existing visas, it prevents institutions from submitting new H-1B visa petitions during the freeze period unless an exception is granted.
Reporting requirements under the H-1B visa order
Beyond the hiring freeze, the governor’s order imposes new reporting obligations on public institutions. State agencies and universities must submit detailed data on their current H-1B visa workforce. This includes the total number of H-1B visa holders employed, their job titles and functions, their countries of origin, and the expiration dates of their visas.
The reporting requirement is intended to give the state a clearer picture of how extensively the H-1B visa program is used within publicly funded institutions. Officials say the data will inform future policy decisions related to employment practices and workforce planning.
Federal policy context shaping the H-1B visa landscape
The Texas action comes amid broader federal efforts under President Donald Trump to reshape skilled immigration policy. In September last year, Trump signed a proclamation restricting the entry of certain non-immigrant workers unless their H-1B visa petitions were accompanied by a $100,000 fee. That fee applies to all new H-1B applications filed after September 21, including those submitted under the FY2026 lottery.
These federal measures have already raised costs and uncertainty for employers and applicants, and the Texas freeze adds another layer of restriction at the state level. While immigration policy is primarily federal, state actions like Abbott’s order can influence hiring decisions and institutional planning, particularly in public sector employment.
Indian professionals most affected by H-1B visa restrictions
Indian nationals account for an estimated 71 percent of approved H-1B visa applications in recent years, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services. This makes them the most affected group as restrictions increase. China ranks a distant second in terms of approved applications.
The H-1B visa is commonly used to employ professionals in technology, engineering, medicine, and advanced research. Major corporate users of the program include Amazon, which had 10,044 approved visas in 2025, followed by Tata Consultancy Services with 5,505. Other large employers include Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Google, Deloitte, Infosys, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra Americas.
Impact of the H-1B visa freeze on Texas universities
Texas public universities employ hundreds of foreign faculty members, researchers, and technical staff, many of whom hold H-1B visas. Indian professionals are particularly prominent in engineering, healthcare, and technology departments. While existing staff are not required to leave under the order, universities may face challenges in recruiting new international talent during the freeze.
According to Open Doors data for the 2022 to 2023 academic year, around 270,000 Indian students were enrolled in US universities, accounting for 25 percent of the international student population. Indian students contribute an estimated $10 billion annually to the US economy and support roughly 93,000 jobs nationwide.
Debate over skilled immigration and state involvement
Supporters of Abbott’s directive argue that the H-1B visa freeze protects local workers and ensures that taxpayer-funded jobs are not used to undercut domestic employment. Critics, however, warn that limiting access to global talent could slow research output, reduce innovation, and weaken Texas’s competitiveness in higher education and technology.
The order adds to the national debate over skilled immigration and the role states can play in shaping outcomes within federal visa programs. H-1B visas are typically granted for an initial period of three years and can be extended for another three. In September 2025, Trump also signed an executive order establishing the “Gold Card,” which offers expedited visa access and a potential path to permanent residency for individuals or corporations willing to make multimillion-dollar payments to the US Treasury.
As federal and state policies continue to evolve, the future of the H-1B visa program remains uncertain for employers, universities, and skilled professionals alike.
