Overview
- The governor directed the Florida Board of Governors to "pull the plug" on public universities' use of H-1B visas, arguing schools should hire Americans for these roles.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services notes states cannot revoke visas and that firing based on immigration status is illegal, raising questions about how any ban would be enforced.
- The Board of Governors is expected to consider the directive at its next meeting at the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida says it is reviewing its H-1B use.
- Federal data show nearly 400 H-1B employees at Florida public universities, including about 156 at the University of Florida, 72 at the University of South Florida, and 69 at Florida State University.
- DeSantis also announced canceling or repurposing more than $33 million in DEI-related grants, as the move aligns with the Trump administration’s new $100,000 H-1B application fee policy.