Washington: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the state’s Board of Governors to phase out the use of H-1B visas across public universities, arguing that jobs currently held by foreign workers should be offered to Florida residents.
Speaking at the University of South Florida in Tampa, DeSantis said the move is intended to ensure that Florida citizens are “first in line for job opportunities.” He called on university leaders to prioritise hiring local talent over international candidates brought in under the federal H-1B visa programme, which allows US institutions to employ foreign nationals in specialised roles.
A recent state review identified H-1B visa holders working in a variety of university roles, including assistant professors, analysts, coordinators, and staff in athletics and communications. DeSantis questioned whether such positions truly required skills unavailable within the state workforce, describing the practice as “cheap labour”.
“Why are we bringing people in to assess our accreditation on an H-1B visa? We can’t do that with our own people?” he said.
The review found H-1B employees from countries including China, Spain, Poland, the UK, Canada, and Albania, with roles such as bio-analytical core director, psychologist, communications manager, and coastal research specialist cited as examples.
The announcement follows recent federal changes to the H-1B visa programme. The US Department of Homeland Security last week issued new guidance on the proposed $100,000 application fee, outlining exemptions for workers switching from other visa categories or applying for amendments and extensions. Current H-1B holders will not be barred from entering or leaving the country.
The White House reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s commitment to prioritising American workers in H-1B reforms and pledged to defend the policy against ongoing legal challenges, including lawsuits filed by the US Chamber of Commerce.
(Inputs from IANS)