Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that he is directing Florida's Board of Governors to prohibit state universities from hiring foreign workers through H-1B visas, which allow international professionals in specialty occupations to work temporarily in the United States.
Speaking at a Tampa press conference, DeSantis characterized the visa program as "indentured servitude" and criticized state universities for relying on what he described as cheaper foreign labor. The directive comes approximately one month after President Donald Trump's administration announced a $100,000 application fee for future H-1B visas as part of broader immigration restrictions.
"I'm directing today the Florida Board of Governors to pull the plug on the use of these H-1B visas in our universities," DeSantis said. He argued that the positions should be filled by Florida residents or other American workers, particularly as domestic workers face layoffs attributed to artificial intelligence implementation and federal workforce reductions.
The governor cited examples of university employees on H-1B visas, including assistant professors, coaches, data analysts, coordinators, and marketers from countries including the United Kingdom, China, Spain, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Russia, Poland, Albania, Argentina, and the West Bank. He questioned why these positions, particularly in fields like mathematics and engineering, required foreign workers.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data as of June 30, 2025, more than 1,900 Florida employers sponsor over 7,200 H-1B visa holders statewide. Within the education sector, 78 employers sponsor 677 beneficiaries.
Gov. Ron DeSantis
The H-1B visa program has emerged as a contentious issue within Republican leadership circles. While figures like Trump and DeSantis advocate for reduced dependence on foreign labor, other party members argue that businesses require access to international workers to fill critical positions.
