KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis directed the state Board of Governors to end H-1B visa usage at public universities, affecting approximately 400 foreign workers currently employed in the state university system
- The directive came during a Wednesday press conference at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where DeSantis called the H-1B program a "scam" that allows institutions to hire "cheap foreign labor"
- The University of Florida currently employs 156 H-1B visa holders, the highest number in the state, followed by the University of Miami with 90 and the University of South Florida with 72
NATIONAL CONTEXT:
- The move follows President Donald Trump's September announcement increasing individual H-1B visa fees from 215 dollars to 100,000 dollars, a measure expected to face legal challenges
- Florida has approximately 7,250 H-1B approvals and renewals statewide in 2025, with roughly 677 beneficiaries working in the education sector across 78 employers
- The initiative has created divisions within Trump's administration, with supporters like Elon Musk favoring the program while others align with DeSantis's restrictive stance
OPPOSITION AND CONCERNS:
- University faculty unions argue that H-1B visas are essential for filling specialized positions in STEM fields where qualified American candidates are scarce
- Data shows approximately 60 percent of computer science Ph.D. graduates from U.S. universities in 2023 were temporary visa holders, not citizens or permanent residents
- University officials warn that ending the program could harm research capabilities and the state's competitiveness in attracting top scientific talent
TAMPA, Florida — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis escalated the national debate over immigration and workforce policy Wednesday by directing state universities to cease hiring foreign workers under the H-1B specialty occupation visa program, a move that could reshape higher education staffing across one of America's largest public university systems.
