In a recent development, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered institutions across the state to stop hiring people with H-1B visas. The move aims to encourage universities to hire Americans instead of foreign workers. It includes the roles of professors, policy speakers, and more in universities. Here’s what’s actually happening.
Ron DeSantis Orders Florida Universities To Stop Hiring H-1B Visa Holders
Universities across the country are importing foreign workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans who are qualified and available to do the job. We will not tolerate H-1B abuse in Florida institutions. That’s why I have directed the Florida Board of Governors to end this… pic.twitter.com/dw3n8Ho5BK
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 29, 2025
On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a major announcement: state universities in Florida will no longer be hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas. The reason? The governor wants these institutions to prioritise American citizens and Florida residents for university positions instead of foreigners.
As per a report by India Today, the decision was made after H-1B audits revealed that state colleges had hired people from China and other countries for university roles. These included roles for professors and policy speakers. Governor Ron DeSantis also took to his official X account to make a statement. He stated that US citizens should be given priority for such openings, writing, “Florida leads the nation in higher education, and thousands of highly qualified Americans graduate from our colleges and universities every year.”
He also added, “If any universities are truly struggling to find U.S. citizens to fill their job openings, they ought to evaluate their academic programs to determine why they cannot produce graduates who can be hired for these positions.”
Crackdown On Visa Abuse In Higher Education
According to a report by NDTV, Ron DeSantis has also directed the Florida Board of Governors to crack down on H-1B visa abuse in higher education. He announced that the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has now partnered with the federal DOGE. The authorities will work together to cancel or repurpose millions of dollars in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) grants.
For those unfamiliar, the H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa. It allows US employers to hire foreign workers temporarily in ‘specialty occupations’. These occupations require a bachelor’s degree or higher in fields like IT, engineering, or medicine.
The announcement to ban H-1B visa holders from applying for jobs in state universities was made on Wednesday. Since then, it has already sparked mixed reactions online from H-1B visa holders in America.
Also Read: Mandatory Interviews Back In Play: What The New US Visa Rules Mean For You
What do you think of this decision? Do you agree with Florida’s decision to prioritise hiring of American citizens only? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
Cover Image Courtesy: @GovRonDeSantis/ X and Manjurul/ Canva Pro
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