Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered a freeze on new H‑1B visa applications at state colleges and universities, pausing hiring of new foreign skilled workers for state‑funded positions through May 31, 2027 unless institutions obtain written permission from the Texas Workforce Commission. The directive follows a records request the governor made to state systems about current visa holders and tracks similar moves proposed in other states. Colleges use H‑1B visas to recruit international faculty, researchers and specialized staff; university leaders warn the restrictions and the Trump administration’s added $100,000 fee for new applicants impair recruiting and retention. The pause requires institutions to report counts, job titles, countries of origin and renewal schedules for sponsored employees. The action signals an intensifying state‑level posture toward immigration and employment policy that could tighten talent pipelines for research, teaching and technical roles at public campuses across Texas and potentially spur legal or legislative pushback from higher‑education advocates.