The Texas Freeze: Governor Abbott's Directive Explained

On January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive mandating an immediate freeze on all new initial H-1B visa petitions by public universities and state agencies. This moratorium, effective through May 31, 2027, requires institutions to halt sponsorship of fresh H-1B applications while compiling detailed data on existing visa holders. Public universities must submit reports by March 27, 2026, covering the number of H-1B workers sponsored, their job roles, countries of origin, visa expiration dates, and recruitment efforts to prioritize Texas residents.

The order stems from concerns over program abuse, with Abbott arguing that H-1B visas—originally designed for specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent—have been misused to undercut American workers. Texas, a leading state for H-1B approvals, sees heavy reliance in higher education. Notable examples include the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center with 228 approvals, Texas A&M University at 214, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center exceeding 100 in fiscal year 2025.

This pause applies specifically to new petitions, leaving renewals for current holders intact for now, though uncertainty lingers as H-1B visas allow up to six years of stay. Institutions can seek exemptions via the Texas Workforce Commission, but the process promises delays in critical hires.

Florida's Push: DeSantis and the Board of Governors' Move

Parallel developments unfolded in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis urged a similar restriction in late 2025. On January 22, 2026, the Florida Board of Governors advanced an amendment proposing a one-year pause on new H-1B hires across the state's 12 public universities, potentially lasting until January 5, 2027. The University of Florida led with 252 approvals in fiscal year 2025, contributing to the system's total of 637 H-1B visas.

Like Texas, Florida's action prioritizes American workers amid federal scrutiny. The board's preliminary vote signals strong momentum, though final approval remains pending. Critics highlight risks to specialized fields, particularly as about 40 percent of public university H-1B visas nationwide support medical and health roles.

Understanding H-1B Visas: A Primer for Higher Education

The H-1B visa, formally the H-1B nonimmigrant visa for specialty occupations, enables U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in roles demanding theoretical and practical application of specialized knowledge, typically requiring a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Unlike cap-subject private employers limited to 85,000 visas annually (65,000 general plus 20,000 for U.S. advanced degree holders via lottery), nonprofit institutions of higher education enjoy cap-exempt status, allowing unlimited petitions year-round.

This exemption proves vital for academia, where international talent fills gaps in STEM, medicine, and research. The process involves employer-filed Form I-129 petitions to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), followed by visa stamping abroad if approved. Universities sponsor faculty, researchers, postdocs, and staff, often transitioning them toward green cards.

• Key eligibility: Job must qualify as specialty occupation; beneficiary needs degree or equivalent experience.
• Duration: Initial three years, extendable to six.
• Cap exemption for universities: Enables agile hiring for time-sensitive projects.

Nationally, U.S. colleges employed over 16,000 H-1B workers in the first three quarters of 2025 alone, comprising about 5 percent of total approvals. Roughly 3 percent of faculty hold H-1B status, with over 70 percent in tenure-track or tenured roles per CUPA-HR data.

The Scale of Reliance: Statistics from Texas and Florida

Texas and Florida rank among top states for university H-1B usage, underscoring the pauses' gravity. In 2025, Texas public institutions secured hundreds of approvals, concentrated in research powerhouses:

• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: 228
• Texas A&M University: 214
• University of Texas at Austin: >100
• UT MD Anderson Cancer Center: >100
• Texas Tech University: >100

Florida's public system tallied 637, led by University of Florida's 252. These figures exclude private institutions and cap-exempt renewals, yet signal vulnerability in fields like oncology, engineering, and biotech.

USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub reveals higher education's outsized role, with nearly half of university visas at just 50 institutions.

Photo by Donald Guy Robinson on Unsplash

Faculty and Higher Ed Groups Sound the Alarm

Higher education leaders decried the pauses as threats to academic freedom and U.S. innovation. Brian Evans, president of Texas AAUP-AFT, called it "reckless," warning of devastation to world-class medical centers: "Messing with the H-1B system was a bad idea when President Trump first tried it. It’s even more reckless when it’s a governor undermining his own state’s workforce."

Brendan Cantwell, higher education professor at Michigan State University, framed it as curbing departmental autonomy: "It’s telling departments, ‘Here’s a group of scholars who are off-limits to you, even if they’re doing research or teaching in areas really important for your students.’" Miriam Feldblum of the Presidents’ Alliance emphasized outsized contributions from H-1B holders in teaching and operations.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Council on Education (ACE) echoed concerns, linking state actions to federal policies undermining competitiveness. Texas AFT urged reversal, highlighting risks to patients and students.

Potential Impacts on Research, Teaching, and Students

The freezes disrupt pipelines for niche expertise, stalling research in critical areas. Medical centers like MD Anderson rely on international oncologists; engineering departments need specialized PhDs. Delays could cascade: unfilled positions burden faculty, degrade program quality, and deter top graduate students wary of visa instability.

• Research slowdowns: Lost grants, halted collaborations.
• Teaching gaps: Fewer experts for advanced courses.
• Economic ripple: International talent drives innovation, patents, startups.
• Equity issues: Disproportionate harm to STEM diversity.

Long-term, universities may lose global edge, as competitors like Canada and Europe lure talent. NAFSA surveys predict enrollment drops exacerbating $7 billion losses.

University Responses and Real-World Challenges

Texas universities, caught off-guard, scramble for compliance while advocating exemptions. UT Austin leaders expressed concerns over hiring freezes amid growing enrollments. Florida's system faces board scrutiny, with University of Florida navigating political pressures.

Case study: A Texas A&M engineering professor noted, "We compete globally; pausing H-1B means losing to rivals." Institutions pivot to J-1 exchanges or domestic recruitment, but shortages persist in quantum computing, AI, and rare disease research.

ACE on H-1B Policies highlights retention struggles.

Federal Overlay: Trump-Era Reforms Amplify Tensions

State pauses align with federal shifts, including a proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions and wage-based prioritization favoring higher salaries—challenging for early-career academics. USCIS's FY2027 cap opens March 4, 2026, with beneficiary-centric selection boosting PhD holders but adding fees.

Though universities are cap-exempt, fees and state blocks compound hurdles. AAUP and AAU lawsuits against fees failed, signaling tighter immigration amid broader nonimmigrant restrictions.

Photo by Laura Rivera on Unsplash

Alternatives, Solutions, and Career Advice for Academics

Universities explore O-1 visas for extraordinary ability, TN for Canadians/Mexicans, or green card fast-tracks. Enhanced domestic training and adjunct pipelines offer bandaids, but experts advocate policy reversal via lobbying.

For job seekers, diversify applications beyond affected states. Explore higher ed faculty jobs nationwide or postdoc opportunities. Tailor CVs with free resume templates; seek career advice.

• Leverage cap-exempt status strategically.
• Build U.S. degree credentials for advanced slots.
• Network via Rate My Professor insights.

Future Outlook: Navigating Uncertainty in Higher Ed Hiring

With legislative sessions looming, exemptions or reversals possible, but political winds favor restrictions. Monitor USCIS updates, state commissions. Higher ed must advocate for balanced reforms preserving talent flows essential to America's research supremacy.

Prospective faculty: Target private universities or cap-exempt roles. Institutions: Bolster internal pipelines. Explore university jobs or professor salaries for planning. As volatility persists, adaptability defines success in U.S. academia.

Stay informed and connected—browse higher ed jobs, get career advice, or rate your professors. Post a job at AcademicJobs.com recruitment.