Daijiworld Media Network - Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Oct 30: In a strong move against what he termed as “H-1B visa abuse” in higher education, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has directed all state universities to stop hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas and instead prioritize American graduates for academic and administrative positions.
“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,” DeSantis said on Wednesday, while announcing the new directive. “We will not tolerate H-1B abuse in Florida institutions.”
DeSantis said that Florida’s higher education system leads the nation and produces thousands of highly qualified graduates every year, emphasizing that taxpayer-funded universities should serve the American workforce — not replace it with cheaper foreign labour.
“If any universities are truly struggling to find U.S. citizens to fill their job openings, they ought to evaluate their academic programmes to determine why they cannot produce graduates who can be hired for these positions,” he added.
The Governor has instructed the Florida Board of Governors to strictly enforce the order, while the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has partnered with the Federal DOGE, the State University System, and institutional partners to cancel or repurpose millions of dollars in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)–related grants.
A statement from the Governor’s Office said, “Florida is requiring institutions to put American graduates first and ensure taxpayer-funded schools serve the American workforce. H-1B visas are allegedly intended for specialty occupations, but universities have often used them for roles that can be easily filled by qualified Americans.”
Highlighting examples, DeSantis pointed out positions such as computer application coordinators, assistant professors, and public policy instructors being filled by foreign nationals from countries like China and Spain.
“Why do we need to bring someone from China to talk about public policy?” DeSantis questioned. “Especially when we see so many Americans being laid off by companies like Amazon and UPS, we must ensure that our citizens here in Florida are first in line for job opportunities.”
According to the Governor’s Office, the state has also redirected or cancelled DEI-related grants totaling more than USD 33 million, reinforcing DeSantis’ broader campaign to reshape Florida’s higher education policies around merit, accountability, and American employment priorities.