DeSantis Orders H-1B Visa Hiring To Stop At FL Universities
India-West News Desk
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on October 30 that he has ordered the Florida Board of Governors to stop the use of H-1B visas in state universities, citing concerns over “abuse” and emphasizing the need to prioritize American graduates for available jobs.
In a directive to the state’s institutions, DeSantis stated they must “put American graduates first and ensure taxpayer-funded schools serve the American workforce, not to be used to import cheap foreign labor.” The Governor alleged that many universities were hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas—originally intended for specialty occupations—for positions that could be filled by qualified Americans. Currently, universities are exempt from federal H-1B caps, allowing them to hire foreign labor year-round.
DeSantis reinforced his position on social media, posting: “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. We will not tolerate H-1B abuse in Florida institutions. That’s why I have directed the Florida Board of Governors to end this practice.”
In a related initiative, the Governor announced that the Florida Department of Education and the State University System have canceled or repurposed more than $33 million in grants previously allocated for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. According to the statement, several grants were rescinded due to “lack of compliance” with state and federal laws, citing concerns that the projects promoted discriminatory missions.
Among the canceled grants were $1.5 million for “Challenging Anti-Black Racism in Civil and Environmental Engineering Curriculum” and $1.3 million for “Mobilizing Physics Teachers to Promote Inclusive and Communal Classroom Cultures Through Everyday Actions.” Other funds were redirected to align with legal requirements, including a $1.5 million grant initially intended to support “historically marginalized students” in STEM, which will now focus on financial need rather than race or ethnicity.
