Florida Moves Forward with DeSantis-Backed Pause for H-1B Visas in Universities

Florida Board of Governors Moves to Freeze H-1B Visas at Public Universities, Stifling Expertise

The Florida Board of Governors has preliminarily approved a one-year freeze on new H-1B visa hiring for public universities, effective through January 2027. Prompted by Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump, the move responds to a new $100,000 federal application fee and concerns over "cheap labor." While university officials intend to study program costs, critics and faculty representatives argue the pause undermines meritocracy and …

Florida university system weighs pause on hiring H-1B visa holders

The move goes to a final vote at the board’s meeting in February.

Florida moves forward with DeSantis-backed pause for H-1B visas in universities

The pause will affect the hiring of international faculty and staff throughout the state's university system.

State Targets H-1B Visas in University System

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida A push by Gov. Ron DeSantis for Florida universities to pause hiring international faculty and staff members through what are known as H-1B visas moved forward Thursday. The state university system’s Board of Governors set up for final approval a proposed moratorium as part of rule changes involving powers and duties of university boards of trustees. With critics raising concerns that the proposal could…

State contemplating pausing university H-1B visas for a year, at DeSantis’ urging

The Florida Board of Governors meets at Florida State University on Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)Following through with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ wishes, the Florida Board of Governors preliminarily voted Thursday to freeze public university H-1B visa hirings for a year, leaving hopeful international academics without that option. During a meeting at Florida State University, the overseers of the State University System star…

Florida Now Accepting Public Comment on H-1B Visa Hiring Ban

University system leaders say they need to pause hiring on the visas for a year to collect information about how universities utilize the program. Only the student and faculty board representatives objected. Florida took another step Thursday toward banning all its public universities from hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas.