Florida Now Accepting Public Comment on H-1B Visa Hiring Ban

"Florida took another step Thursday toward banning all its public universities from hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas. The committee of the state university system's Board of Governors will now take public comments for two weeks on a proposed prohibition on hiring any new employees on H-1Bs through Jan. 5 of next year. The vote from a committee to further the proposal was a voice vote, with no nays heard from any committee member."

"If enacted, Florida would become the second state to ban the use of H-1B visas at public universities. Texas governor Greg Abbott announced a one-year freeze earlier this week-a move that prompted pushback from faculty. The state bans come after President Trump placed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications in September (international workers who are already legal residents aren't required to pay the fee)."

"DeSantis complained about professors coming from China, "supposed Palestine" and elsewhere. He added that "we need to make sure our citizens here in Florida are first in line for job opportunities." Universities use the program to hire faculty, doctors and researchers and argue it's required to meet needs in health care, engineering and other specialized occupations. Some conservatives contend that the program is being abused."

A committee of Florida's state university Board of Governors advanced a proposal to prohibit hiring any new employees on H-1B visas at public universities through Jan. 5 and opened a two-week public comment period. The committee moved the proposal forward by a voice vote with no recorded nays. If enacted, Florida would join Texas, which implemented a one-year freeze. The proposal follows a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications and a gubernatorial order to stop using H-1Bs. Universities say H-1Bs fill critical roles in health care, engineering and research; some conservatives argue the program is abused. Committee discussion lasted about 15 minutes, with faculty and student board members voicing objections.

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