Texas Governor Halts H-1B Visa Hiring at State Agencies and Universities

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a freeze on new H-1B visa petitions for hiring at state agencies and public universities. The order directs these institutions to prioritize hiring Texans first.

Separately, the federal government announced it will add 65,000 seasonal guest worker visas for 2026. The Texas order does not apply to private companies, which can continue their own H-1B hiring processes.