- Texas Governor Greg Abbott proposed banning H-1B employment in public schools and restricting foreign gifts and contracts during a news conference in Austin this week.
- Abbott stated, 'Exactly zero Texas public school employees should be here on H-1B visas' and emphasized that 'foreign influence of any kind has no place in our classrooms.'
- Earlier this year, Abbott ordered state agencies and public universities to pause filing new H-1B petitions.
- In April, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a visa fraud probe into dozens of North Texas businesses.
- Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) is the largest H-1B sponsor among school districts, hiring foreign nationals to fill staff shortages.
- Dallas ISD warned that if Abbott's expectation is to eliminate these teachers, they will need more Texans in the teaching pipeline.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott's recent proposal aims to ban H-1B visa holders from public schools, emphasizing that "exactly zero Texas public school employees should be here on H-1B visas." He argues that foreign influence in education is detrimental, stating, "We cannot condone the quiet indoctrination of our children in the classroom."12
Abbott's plan includes prohibiting public schools from accepting gifts or contracts from foreign entities, citing instances where Texas schools received funding from foreign sources like Qatar. He noted that "the minds of our students are driven by influences that they are exposed to in our public schools," and insisted that these influences should align with state policies.
In fiscal year 2025, Indians represented approximately 78 percent of all H-1B visa extensions granted, highlighting the significant role of foreign educators in Texas schools. Abbott's directive follows a trend where Texas public schools have become major sponsors of H-1B visas, with the Dallas Independent School District employing the highest number of H-1B workers.
While Abbott's stance resonates with many Republican lawmakers advocating for H-1B reforms, local school officials argue that foreign teachers are necessary to address staffing shortages. "If the governor’s new expectation is to eliminate these teachers, then we’re going to need more Texans in the teaching pipeline," a Dallas ISD official stated.6
Abbott's proposal reflects a broader push against perceived foreign influence in education, as he declared, "Bottom line is this foreign influence of any kind has no place in our classrooms."
“Dallas ISD, the state's top H-1B sponsor, had 171 approved applications between July 2025 and June 2026, and officials warn that eliminating these teachers would require more Texans in the teaching pipeline. Abbott's proposal also targets foreign gifts, citing Austin ISD's acceptance of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Qatar for Arabic instruction.”
