Florida is moving to freeze new H-1B visa hiring in its public university system for one year. The Florida Board of Governors is set to introduce this plan on January 29, 2026. If approved, no new faculty or staff on H-1B visas can be hired until early 2027. Existing H-1B employees will keep their jobs. The policy targets the fall 2026 hiring cycle. Supporters say the freeze will protect American jobs and reduce overreliance on foreign workers. They argue that publicly funded institutions should prioritize US workers and claim that the H-1B program sometimes sidelines American candidates or lowers wages. Currently, Florida’s public universities employ nearly 400 H-1B visa holders. Critics say this number shows the need for international talent in specialised, high-skilled roles. Universities warn that the freeze could hurt recruitment in high-demand subjects, research fields, and STEM and health disciplines. They say it risks losing competitiveness for grants and major projects. University leaders note H-1B hires fill roles where qualified US candidates are limited. This decision could deepen national debates over whether H-1B visas help or harm the American workforce.