Florida is moving towards a one-year freeze on new H-1B visa hiring across its state university system, a proposal supporters say is meant to protect American jobs and cut reliance on foreign labour. The plan is expected to be introduced by Florida’s Board of Governors at its January 29, 2026 meeting and would prevent public universities from bringing in new faculty or staff on H-1B visas until early 2027. The move follows an earlier directive from Governor Ron DeSantis and has sparked debate over talent recruitment and immigration policy.
What Florida is proposing for new H-1B hiring
Under the draft policy, Florida’s public universities would be barred from hiring new employees on H-1B visas for roughly a year, directly affecting recruitment for the fall 2026 semester. Existing H-1B visa holders would not be impacted, but campuses would be unable to add new H-1B faculty, researchers, or professional staff during the freeze.
If approved, the measure would be among the most far-reaching state-level restrictions on H-1B hiring in public higher education.
Why supporters want the freeze
Backers of the proposal argue publicly funded university jobs should prioritise US workers, claiming the H-1B programme can be used to sideline American candidates or suppress wages. The message has been pushed in blunt political terms, including the claim that H-1B workers are taking American jobs, a line that has gained traction in online immigration debates.
How many H-1B workers are currently in Florida universities
Florida’s public universities collectively employ nearly 400 H-1B workers, and supporters of the freeze argue the number shows the system has become too reliant on foreign hiring.Those opposing the proposal say the number reflects how universities operate in high-skilled fields, where international recruitment is often needed for specialised academic and technical roles.
What universities say the freeze could disrupt
Higher education voices have warned the freeze could make it harder to:
- recruit faculty in high-demand subjects
- fill specialised research and lab roles
- maintain competitiveness for grants and major projects
- sustain talent pipelines in STEM and health-related disciplines
University administrators argue H-1B hires are typically used when qualified candidates are limited, particularly in niche research areas and advanced technical positions.The proposal is expected to be introduced at the January 29, 2026 Board of Governors meeting. If approved, it would shape staffing decisions across Florida’s public universities ahead of the next major hiring cycle and intensify the national debate over whether the H-1B visa programme strengthens the workforce or undercuts domestic hiring.
