Texas Governor Abbott proposes total H-1B ban in public schools

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has proposed legislation to ban H-1B visa holders from working in the state's public schools, arguing that foreign influence has no place in classrooms. Abbott announced the plan at a campaign event in Austin, saying he would ask the Texas Legislature to pass a law imposing a "total ban" on H-1B workers in public schools. Livemint reports that Abbott cited federal failure to limit the H-1B programme as a reason for state action, and that the proposal would also prevent schools from accepting foreign gifts, money, or property.

The Times of India reports that Abbott's target is Chinese and Islamic influence in schools, citing examples of an Austin school district accepting funds from Qatar for Arabic instruction and some districts participating in Confucius Classroom programmes. Kate Bierly of the Texas Public Policy Foundation told the Times of India that classroom materials included an activity where second-graders were instructed to create a greeting card praising the Prophet Muhammad. According to Livemint, Texas school districts employ more H-1B visa-holding educators than any other US state, and a ban could affect districts relying on foreign workers for hard-to-fill positions like bilingual education.

Abbott cannot impose the ban unilaterally, the Texas Legislature must first pass the legislation. If approved, it would be a significant state-level restriction on H-1B employment in public education. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services said on July 17, 2026, that it had received enough petitions to reach the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap of 85,000 visas.