On January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) instructed state agencies and publicly funded universities to immediately halt all new H-1B visa petitions. The order, detailed in a memo issued by the governor, makes Texas the first state to implement such a statewide freeze on the federal program.
The directive requires that no state agency controlled by a gubernatorially appointed head or public institution of higher education shall initiate or file any new petition under the H-1B visa program without written permission 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 reasons for his decision.
In a social media statement, Abbott emphasized: “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.” He further noted that the program has too often been used to fill jobs that could and should have been filled by Texans, rather than its intended purpose of attracting globally skilled workers for specialized roles.
Texas approved over 40,000 H-1B visa petitions in fiscal year 2025, ranking second nationally behind California. The governor also mandated that state agencies submit reports by March 27, 2026, detailing current H-1B visa holders’ countries of origin and efforts to provide qualified Texans with employment opportunities.
