Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Halts H-1B Petitions At State Agencies
Abbott ordered state agencies and public universities to stop new H-1B petitions until May 31, 2027, pending a March 27 report to the Texas Workforce Commission.
Overview
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Jan. 27 directed state agencies and public universities to halt new H-1B visa petitions until May 31, 2027, with exceptions only if the Texas Workforce Commission grants written approval.
Abbott said in a Jan. 27 letter the pause will allow lawmakers to establish "statutory guardrails" and implement federal reforms after reports that employers allegedly displaced U.S. workers.
Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., chairman of the Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said in a written statement that H-1B holders are "Texans in every way that matters," and university staff did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Records show the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center had 228 H-1B holders; Texas A&M had 214; MD Anderson had 171; UT Austin had 169; Texas Tech had 143; and Cognizant Technology Solutions had 3,172 H-1B visas in Texas.
State agencies must submit detailed H-1B filings to the Texas Workforce Commission by March 27, and Abbott said the pause will allow lawmakers to consider statutory changes while federal reforms proceed.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this story neutrally, balancing Abbott’s rationale with counterarguments and factual context. They attribute evaluative claims to named actors, include data on H‑1B distributions and institutional impacts, and avoid loaded editorial language. By citing officials, critics, enrollment figures and exemptions, sources emphasize breadth over advocacy.