Texas Governor Greg Abbott is pushing for a complete ban on H-1B visa holders working in public schools across the state, adding a fresh hurdle for foreign professionals.
Earlier this year, Abbott had already ordered a freeze on new H-1B hiring at Texas state agencies and public universities. Now, he wants lawmakers to extend similar restrictions to public school districts.
Abbott is also seeking tighter controls on foreign funding and influence in schools.
He has asked the Texas Legislature to stop public schools from accepting gifts, money or property from foreign sources and to restrict contracts with foreign governments, companies, organisations or individuals.
“The minds of our students are driven by influences that they are exposed to in our public schools,” Abbott said. “Those minds should be shaped by policies that are approved by state lawmakers.”
H-1B Workers in Public Schools Targeted
Abbott has made it clear that he does not want the number of H-1B workers in Texas public schools to simply come down.
He wants it to be zero.
“Exactly zero Texas public school employees should be here on H-1B visas,” Abbott said.
He argued that schools should instead hire Texans or other American workers to educate students.
“We need to find Texans or Americans who can educate our students. Period,” he said.
The governor also criticised the federal government, saying it had failed to place enough limits on the H-1B programme.
“We’re tired of the federal government not putting limits on who can come in under H-1Bs,” Abbott said.
Foreign Funding Also Under Scanner
Abbott’s latest move is not limited to visas.
He has also raised concerns about foreign-funded programmes in Texas schools.
According to reports cited in the debate, the Austin Independent School District had received funding from Qatar for Arabic language and cultural instruction.
Some school districts in Texas had also participated in Confucius Classroom programmes linked to Chinese government-backed organisations.
Abbott said foreign governments or organisations should not be allowed to influence what children are exposed to in classrooms.
“We cannot condone the quiet indoctrination of our children in the classroom,” he said.
H-1B Becomes Bigger Political Issue
The H-1B visa programme is increasingly becoming a political issue in Republican-led states.
The visa allows highly skilled foreign professionals to work in the US for a limited period, and Indians make up the largest share of beneficiaries.
In fiscal year 2025, Indians reportedly accounted for around 220,000 of the 290,000 H-1B extensions granted, or roughly 78 per cent.
Interestingly, the political opposition to H-1B visas in Texas comes even as demand for such workers has reportedly increased in several Republican-held congressional districts.
An analysis cited by Newsweek, based on federal labour data, found that H-1B-related filings rose in multiple Republican-held suburban districts between fiscal years 2019 and 2025.
Abbott’s latest proposal therefore adds another layer to the growing H-1B debate in the US.
If approved by lawmakers, the move could completely shut H-1B workers out of Texas public schools and create another challenge for foreign professionals seeking jobs in the state.
