The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state's university system, approved a freeze on Monday, putting a pause on hiring new faculty through the federal H-1B program until Jan. 5, 2027.
Board member Kimberly Dunn and student representative Carson Dale dissented.
Employers use the program to hire foreign professionals with at least a bachelor's degree when positions are hard to fill with U.S.-born workers.
The H-1B visa is valid up to three years and can be extended for another three years.
Renewals for H-1B visas will not be affected, state officials said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has also directed college and agencies in his state to pause hiring H-1B visa holders through May 2027.
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The moratorium follows Gov. Ron DeSantis' criticisms of the H-1B program last fall. He pointed to employers who use the program to hire foreign workers at lower wages than U.S.-born workers.
Connor O'Brien, a fellow at the non-partisan think tank Institute for Progress (IFP), said he recognized the concerns, but worried the hiring freeze goes too far.
"The H-1B has long been abused by IT outsourcing firms sponsoring middle skill workers for underwhelming pay," said O'Brien, "Unfortunately, the proposal, as currently written, would go much further than trimming back the questionable uses of the visa at state schools."
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