Texas Suspends H-1B Visa Applications for State Agencies, Indians Face Major Setback

Indian professionals have suffered a major setback as the state government of Texas, aligning with former President Donald Trump’s immigration stance, has announced the suspension of H-1B visa applications for all state-run agencies and universities.

The decision was reported by Indian media outlets on Wednesday and later confirmed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. In an official letter, Abbott stated that the H-1B visa program has allowed many jobs to go to foreign workers that should have been filled by Americans—particularly Texans.

Governor Abbott argued that instead of being used to recruit the world’s most skilled talent for genuinely specialized and unfilled positions, the H-1B program has often been applied to roles that Texas residents are capable of performing themselves.

The Republican governor said the move was necessary to preserve Texas’s status as “America’s strongest economic engine.”

According to federal data cited by the Houston Chronicle, the majority of H-1B visa holders in Texas are employed in the private sector. However, a significant number work in state universities, public hospitals, and other government institutions, which will now be directly affected by the suspension.

Under the new directive, the suspension of H-1B visa applications will remain in effect until May 31, 2027. As a result, state-run universities, hospitals, and various public agencies will face immediate operational challenges.

The governor’s order also requires all state agencies to submit a detailed report by March 27, outlining the number of visa renewal applications, countries of origin of applicants, current visa durations, and other relevant details.

The report notes that Indian nationals are expected to be the most affected by this decision. According to data from the Pew Research Center, of the 5.2 million Indians living in the United States, approximately 570,000 reside in Texas. Other large Indian populations are located in New Jersey (440,000), New York (390,000), and Illinois (270,000).

Concerns are also growing that immigration restrictions announced by Trump in September 2025 will have the most severe impact on the Indian community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 data, Indians make up nearly 66 percent of skilled immigrants in the United States.