Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called on the state’s public universities to cease hiring international employees through the H-1B visa programme, arguing that it displaces American workers. The governor’s directive targets nearly 400 foreign nationals currently employed at Florida’s public universities under the visa, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
“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 said in a statement. He has directed the Florida Board of Governors to “pull the plug” on the practice. However, legal experts note that states lack authority over the federal H-1B programme, and federal regulations prohibit firing employees based on immigration status.
The University of Florida is the largest state user, employing over 150 staff under the visa, followed by the University of South Florida (72) and Florida State University (69). Most H-1B holders work in fields such as computer science, engineering, and chemistry. In 2023, about 60% of computer science PhDs from US universities were temporary visa holders.
DeSantis’s move echoes broader tensions within the Trump camp over the H-1B programme. While figures like Elon Musk argue it is essential for innovation, DeSantis contends it enables employers to replace Americans with lower-paid foreign labour. Former President Donald Trump recently raised the H-1B visa fee from $215 to $100,000, a decision likely to face legal challenges.
University of Florida interim president Donald Landry said the institution would cooperate with the review, noting that retaining top faculty after investment is an exception. “Occasionally, some bright light might be good enough for the faculty, and then we will try and retain the person into whom we’ve invested so much,” he said.
