Public universities in Florida and Texas have paused new hiring through H-1B visas, raising concerns among academics that restrictions on international faculty recruitment could weaken the United States’ research pipeline.
Public university systems in Florida and Texas have temporarily halted new hiring of international faculty and staff through H-1B visas, prompting concerns across academic and research communities.
Florida’s Board of Governors voted on March 2 to suspend new H-1B hires across the state’s public universities until January 5, 2027. The system includes twelve universities, many of which hold high research activity designations. Existing visa holders can continue working and renew contracts during the pause.
Texas had already introduced a similar directive earlier in the year, ordering public institutions to halt new H-1B petitions until May 31, 2027. The state hosts one of the largest research ecosystems in the United States, with more than twenty universities classified as major research institutions.
Experts warn the freezes could make it harder for universities to recruit specialists in niche scientific fields, many of whom are international scholars.
The policy changes also follow federal immigration shifts, including a sharp increase in H-1B filing fees introduced in 2025, which has raised the cost of sponsoring foreign workers. Researchers fear the restrictions could push talent toward universities in Europe and Canada.
[Source: Times of India]
