Texas has temporarily suspended new H-1B visa hiring at state agencies and public universities, raising concerns over potential impacts on healthcare, research, and staffing.
H-1B Visa Freeze in Texa
Texas has temporarily suspended the hiring of new H-1B visa holders at state agencies and public universities. Experts warn that this decision could have a significant impact on healthcare facilities that rely on foreign-born doctors, physicians, and other specialized professionals.
Governor Greg Abbott instructed all state agencies and public universities to stop submitting new H-1B visa applications until at least May 31, 2027. The directive cites alleged “abuse” of the visa program and stresses a focus on prioritizing employment for American workers. Supporters of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement often echo such concerns, claiming foreign workers depress local wages.
The order applies across all state-run institutions, including public universities and affiliated facilities.
Abbott also instructed agencies and universities to submit detailed reports to the commission. These reports must include:
The number of new and renewed H-1B visa petitions submitted in 2025.
The current number of H-1B visa holders sponsored by the institution.
The employees’ job titles, countries of origin, and visa expiration dates.
Proof of efforts to offer qualified Texans opportunities for positions currently held by H-1B visa holders.
The move has sparked strong criticism from researchers, economists, and healthcare professionals, many of whom took to X (formerly Twitter) to express concern about the impact on research and patient care.
Connor O’Brien, a policy researcher and fellow at the Institute for Progress, tweeted, “This ban covers the MD Anderson Cancer Center, arguably the best cancer hospital in the world. They hire top-notch doctors, specialists, and researchers using H-1B visas every year. Bowing to the mob here means hurting cancer patients in Texas and across America. Crazy.”
Global health expert Krutika Kuppalli described the move as “short-sighted,” writing, “We already face serious healthcare workforce shortages and struggle to meet patient demand. Public universities and health systems rely on H-1Bs to recruit physicians, nurses, scientists, and researchers. This will worsen staffing gaps, slow research, and harm patients, especially in underserved communities. This doesn’t protect Texans. It weakens Texas healthcare.”
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire highly skilled professionals from abroad in sectors like medicine, science, and engineering. Republican leaders have criticized the program, often labeling H-1B workers as “cheap labor.”
However, public universities and teaching hospitals depend on these visas to fill positions that are hard to staff domestically. Hospitals like MD Anderson Cancer Center and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center routinely hire physicians, researchers, and clinical specialists through H-1B visas.
Healthcare professionals warn that limiting new H-1B applications could make it harder for hospitals to maintain staffing, particularly in specialized positions.
A letter from the American Hospital Association last year revealed that about 26% of U.S. hospital staff are non-citizen immigrants, many of whom enter through visas such as the H-1B program.
The freeze on new H-1B hiring in Texas raises concerns over healthcare staffing shortages, slowed research, and potential impacts on patient care, especially in critical and underserved areas.
