Florida’s public universities may soon face a significant shift in their hiring practices, particularly concerning foreign employees through the H-1B visa program. A proposal set for a vote on January 29 by the State University System of Florida’s Board of Governors could impose a hiring freeze on H-1B visa positions until January 5, 2027. This change comes in the wake of Governor Ron DeSantis’s long-standing criticism of the program, which he claims allows universities to bypass qualified American candidates in favor of foreign workers.
The H-1B visa program is critical for staffing research labs and academic departments across the United States, particularly in states like Florida. For instance, data for fiscal year 2025 indicates that the University of Florida utilized 253 H-1B workers, while Florida State University and the University of South Florida employed 110 and 107 H-1B visa holders, respectively. The proposed policy aims to prevent additional reliance on this program for new hires, directly impacting the operational capabilities of these institutions.
DeSantis’s directive echoes a national sentiment shared by many who argue that universities are compromising job opportunities for American citizens by favoring foreign nationals. He has been vocal about needing to “pull the plug” on what he calls “H-1B abuse” within state universities, reflecting a broader national trend initiated during the Trump administration, which included imposing substantial fees on H-1B visa applications.
Concerns have arisen within higher education circles regarding the ramifications of such a hiring freeze, especially as nearly three dozen higher education institutions have advocated for exemptions from new fees associated with H-1B applications. These institutions argue that the unique needs of colleges and universities justify their exclusion from the annual cap of 85,000 visas. Furthermore, legal challenges to the fee have surfaced, indicating that the debate around H-1B visas is far from settled.
As this situation unfolds, the future of hiring practices within Florida’s public universities hangs in the balance. If the proposal passes, it could significantly reshape the educational workforce landscape and impact research initiatives reliant on skilled foreign talent. This development emphasizes the ongoing dialogue around immigration policies and their effects on education and research sectors in the United States.