Florida Bans H-1B Visa Hiring at Universities to Promote American Graduate Employment

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has implemented a significant policy change requiring state universities to prioritize hiring American workers instead of recruiting foreign employees on H-1B visas.

"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," DeSantis announced on Wednesday.

The governor has directed the Florida Board of Governors to terminate this practice, stating firmly, "We will not tolerate H-1B abuse in Florida institutions."

DeSantis emphasized that Florida is renowned for its higher education system, with thousands of highly-qualified American graduates emerging from its colleges and universities annually.

He suggested that institutions struggling to find U.S. citizens for job openings should reevaluate their academic programs to understand why they cannot produce graduates suitable for these positions.

The H-1B visa program is predominantly used by the U.S. technology sector to employ workers from countries like India and China.

According to the Governor's Office, Florida is now mandating that institutions prioritize American graduates and ensure taxpayer-funded schools serve the American workforce rather than importing foreign labor.

The statement explained that H-1B visas are purportedly designed for specialty occupations, but many universities have hired foreign workers for positions that qualified Americans could easily fill. Universities are exempt from federal H-1B visa caps, allowing them to hire foreign workers year-round.

DeSantis cited examples of university positions filled by foreign H-1B workers, including computer application coordinators, assistant professors, public policy professors from China, and an assistant swim coach from Spain.

"Why do we need to bring someone from China to talk about public policy... Especially when you see in the news all these people being laid off by Amazon, UPS, all these companies, we need to make sure our citizens here in Florida are first in line for job opportunities," the governor questioned.

Additionally, in collaboration with Federal DOGE, the State University System, and individual institutions, Florida has repurposed or cancelled DEI-related grants totaling more than $33 million.