H-1B Visas Still Moving At Texas Universities Despite Governor’s Statewide Ban
Texas universities are continuing some H-1B employment activities, subject to narrow exceptions, despite a statewide freeze ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott.
The directive, issued in January 2026, prohibits new H-1B visa applications at state agencies and public universities without approval from the Texas Workforce Commission. However, university records and statements indicate some cases are still pending in what officials describe as authorized categories.
As previously reported, Abbott ordered all state agencies and public universities to stop new H-1B petitions and submit detailed reports on their use of the program by March 27, citing concerns about alleged abuses and the need to prioritize domestic workers, according to an earlier report from The Dallas Express.
Texas universities continue H-1B filings under narrow exceptions to Abbott freeze
“Governor Abbott expects all state agencies and institutions of higher education to fully comply with his directive to freeze new H-1B visa applications. Job opportunities in Texas should be filled first by Texans,” said Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary to the governor, in a statement to The Dallas Express.
However, at University of Texas at Austin17 “Notices of Intent to Hire” remain public, including positions for assistant professors, research associates and postdoctoral fellows with salaries ranging from approximately $58,000 to more than $200,000.
A university official said The Dallas Express provided that such postings do not represent new hire in violation of the ordinance.
“Posts on the UT ISSS website do not constitute new positions,” the official said. “These are renewals and change of status requests, which are outside the scope of the governor’s directive. The U.S. Department of Labor requires us to post them.”
Employers seeking an H-1B visa must publicly post employment requirements requests, even if an applicant has already been selected. In this most recent case, the UT official indicated that a foreign candidate had been chosen.
A similar explanation was provided by Texas State Universitywhich confirmed it filed the required reports by the March 27 deadline and continues to maintain multiple H-1B-related notices.
“Texas State University submitted its reports to the Texas Workforce Commission by March 27, 2026, as required. There are currently four filing notices on the Texas State University website for H-1B extensions. According to Texas Workforce Commission guidance, extensions are permitted under the directive, therefore TXST was not required to seek approval for the filings,” Jayme Blaschke, university communications director, said in an email to DX.
THE the distinction between new petitions and extensions seems central to how universities are pursuing certain filings while remaining, they say, in compliance with the governor’s order.
HAS Texas A&M UniversityThe school’s website describes procedures for posting notices of H-1B employment conditions, but does not currently post active job postings for new H-1B recruits. University representatives did not respond to a request for comment from The Dallas Express.
THE Texas Workforce Commissionwho Abbott asked to oversee and provide advice on policy, declined to answer questions. Agency officials said The Dallas Express to file a request under the Texas Public Information Act.
H-1B review intensifies as Texas universities face questions over millions spent and hundreds hired
The continued filings are part of a broader review of H-1B use in Texas higher education.
Previous reports detailed that Texas A&M had spent more than $3.25 million on H-1B-related costs since 2020 and faced delays in releasing records, prompting additional attention from state officials, according to an earlier report from The Dallas Express. As of this writing, A&M has hired more than 600 H-1B workers over a five-year period.
New federal data that could show the extent to which H-1B hiring at public universities has declined since the governor’s order is not yet available and is not expected for several months.
The debate has also played out alongside political pressure on employers beyond state government.
In a separate response to The Dallas ExpressAbbott’s office stressed that while visa policy is controlled at the federal level, the governor has encouraged broader changes.
“The private sector should follow suit and prioritize American workers for American jobs,” another Abbott press official said in an earlier statement, referring to the state’s hiring freeze.
The situation highlights a key distinction: Although Texas may restrict how state-funded institutions use the H-1B program, federal law still governs the visa system itself, including public disclosure requirements and current work authorizations.
With the freeze expected to remain in effect until the end of the legislative session in May 2027, questions remain about how universities will balance compliance with state guidelines and federal work requirements in the months ahead.
