Overview
- The governor directed the Florida Board of Governors to stop using H‑1B visas across 12 public universities statewide, including UF, FSU, UCF, USF and FIU.
- Speaking in Tampa at the University of South Florida, he labeled the H‑1B program a scam and said public universities have misused it.
- The order seeks both an end to new H‑1B hires and the suspension of current employees working under that visa.
- Experts and immigrant advocacy groups warn the action could hinder recruitment of international talent and disrupt faculty, research and specialized operations.
- Universities have not detailed implementation or the number of affected workers, while the H‑1B system remains a federal program with an annual cap of 85,000 visas requiring employer sponsorship.