Foreign worker

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for legislation banning H-1B visas for public school employees, saying at an Austin news conference that "exactly zero Texas public school employees should be here on H-1B visas." The proposal is part of a broader push to curb what Abbott described as "foreign influence" in K-12 education, and follows a January directive that halted new H-1B visa sponsorships at state agencies and public universities and colleges.

Abbott also urged lawmakers to bar public schools from accepting gifts, money or property from foreign sources, and to prohibit schools from entering partnerships or financial agreements with foreign entities. The Texas Legislature is not scheduled to convene again until January, meaning any such legislation would have to wait until that session. The move adds to a national debate over the use of H-1B visas, which are reserved for high-skilled foreign workers, in public institutions.