Introduction to the H-1B Visa Program
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants to “pull the plug” on H-1B visas at state universities, arguing the program meant to recruit top talent wrongly takes jobs away from Floridians. Almost 400 employees from foreign countries currently work at Florida public universities under that visa program, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
DeSantis’ Plan to End H-1B Visas
DeSantis, speaking at the University of South Florida, said he plans to direct the state’s higher education board to end the use of the visas. “We need to make sure our citizens here in Florida are first in line for these job opportunities,” DeSantis said. It’s unclear how the state would take the action DeSantis wants, however. Individual states do not have the authority to revoke visas, and it is illegal to fire employees on the basis of immigration status, according to the federal immigration agency.
The H-1B Program and Its Usage
The H-1B program allows companies and institutions to bring in educated foreign professionals for “specialty” occupations that are hard to fill with U.S. workers. These workers must have bachelor’s degrees. Amazon is the biggest user of the program nationwide, employing more than 10,000 such workers this year, federal immigration data shows. A consultant company, PWC Advisory Services, is the biggest user in Florida, with more than 640 employers on H-1B visas.
The program, which involves more than 7,200 people in Florida, most employed at private companies, has divided supporters of the Trump administration, with some like Elon Musk saying they are vital for America’s economic success and others, like DeSantis, complaining they allow companies to outsource jobs to lower-paid foreigners.
Recent Changes to the H-1B Program
In September, President Donald Trump announced an increase in fees for H-1B visas from $215 to $100,000. That fee is typically paid by employers. Trump also signed a proclamation saying there had been “systematic abuse” of the program. Trump’s decision, expected to face a legal challenge, means employers have to pay the new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions filed after Sept. 21, so it could curtail the program, but it does not impact visa holders already working in the United States.
Impact on State Universities
DeSantis listed several positions filled by H-1B visa holders at state universities, including those from China, Argentina and Canada, and said they “cheap labor” taking opportunities from qualified Floridians. He did not specify which universities had hired these employees. The University of Florida is among the state’s leading users of the H-1B program with more than 150 staff on those visas, according to federal immigration data. Other universities aren’t far behind, with 72 at USF, 69 at Florida State University, 28 at the University of Central Florida and 13 at Florida Atlantic University.
Response from University Staff
University staff on H-1B visas are largely in computer science, engineering, physics and chemistry departments, professors say, fields relatively few Americans pursue. In 2023, for example, about 60% of those who earned Ph.Ds in computer science from U.S. universities were temporary visa holders, not citizens or permanent residents, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. Robert Cassanello, the president of the United Faculty of Florida and a UCF history professor, criticized DeSantis for emphasizing merit-based hiring at universities but then not supporting the H-1B program.
Criticism of DeSantis’ Plan
Cassanello said its not that universities don’t want to hire American applicants for positions, rather that many times there aren’t enough qualified applicants, especially for science and math positions. And many times, the best applicants come from other countries, he said. “DeSantis is speaking out of both sides his mouth … He is actively trying to remove any and all autonomy of governing our public colleges and universities from the people who run them day to day,” he said.
Conclusion
The H-1B visa program has been a topic of controversy in recent years, with some arguing that it allows companies to outsource jobs to lower-paid foreigners, while others see it as a vital tool for recruiting top talent. DeSantis’ plan to end the use of H-1B visas at state universities has been met with criticism from university staff, who argue that it will harm the state’s economy and limit the ability of universities to attract top talent.
FAQs
Q: What is the H-1B visa program?
A: The H-1B program allows companies and institutions to bring in educated foreign professionals for “specialty” occupations that are hard to fill with U.S. workers.
Q: How many employees from foreign countries currently work at Florida public universities under the H-1B visa program?
A: Almost 400 employees from foreign countries currently work at Florida public universities under that visa program.
Q: What is DeSantis’ plan regarding H-1B visas?
A: DeSantis plans to direct the state’s higher education board to end the use of the visas.
Q: How will the recent changes to the H-1B program affect employers?
A: Employers will have to pay a new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions filed after Sept. 21.
Q: What is the response of university staff to DeSantis’ plan?
A: University staff have criticized DeSantis’ plan, arguing that it will harm the state’s economy and limit the ability of universities to attract top talent.
