Public universities in Florida may soon have to hire more Americans, following a directive from Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. On October 29, DeSantis instructed the Florida Board of Governors to “pull the plug” on the use of H-1B visas for faculty and staff at Florida state universities.
In explaining the decision, DeSantis criticized companies for prioritizing visa holders over American workers. “These tech companies will fire Americans and hire H-1B at a discount. This is basically, in some respects, cheap labor that they’re bringing in to try to save money,” he said. The governor emphasized that such practices hurt American workers, who should be first in line at American universities.
DeSantis revealed that his administration uncovered many examples of unnecessary H-1B hires within the university system. “You got a computer application professor from China, public policy professor, China. Why do we need to bring someone from China to talk about public policy?” he questioned.
He provided several examples as evidence of the threat H-1B visas pose to American workers, particularly since visa workers can be paid significantly less. DeSantis insisted that staff and faculty positions could be filled “with our residents in Florida or with Americans.”
The Florida Board of Governors oversees the state’s 12 public universities, and this decision highlights growing scrutiny over the H-1B visa program.
The H-1B visa program has recently become a contentious issue nationwide. On September 19, President Trump signed a proclamation requiring companies to pay a $100,000 fee for new H-1B hires. Additionally, in August, the Young Republicans of Texas announced they would endorse only national candidates who oppose the H-1B program.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/desantis-demands-end-to-cheap-h-1b-labor-at-florida-universities-why-do-we-need-to-bring-someone-from-china