Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans to “pull the plug” on H-1B visas across Florida universities during a Wednesday morning press conference at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
University positions currently occupied by visa-holders, including one UF clinical assistant professor who DeSantis said is from the West Bank, should be filled by Florida residents, the governor said.
“We need to make sure our citizens here in Florida are first in line for job opportunities,” DeSantis said.
UF approved petitions for 156 visa holders through the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year, according to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It ranked in the top 25 nationwide for number of approved H-1B visas among employers in the education industry.
The university also ranked highly among Florida public schools, with over twice as many visas approved this fiscal year than the next-highest employer, USF, which tallied 68 beneficiaries.
Last fiscal year, UF approved 252 H-1B visas and ranked No. 14 among education employers.
An H-1B visa allows U.S. companies to temporarily employ foreign workers for jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher. UF hiring departments can sponsor international employees for up to six years, three years at a time.
These employees are eligible to apply for permanent residency while on H-1B visas
UF is exempt from H-1B caps as a higher education institution, so hiring departments can apply for these petitions all year round, according to the UF HR department.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
