TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging Florida’s public colleges and universities to halt the hiring of foreign workers through the H-1B visa program, a move the governor said is intended to protect jobs for state residents and United States citizens.

What You Need To Know

Florida colleges and universities could soon deny H-1B workers

H-1B is designed to make employable skilled workers in a specialized job or field

Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested some schools are abusing the program

H-1B is a program designed to make employable skilled workers in a specialized job or field. DeSantis suggested some schools are abusing the program and argued that universities should prioritize Floridians and Americans for positions.

“We can do it with our residents in Florida or with Americans. And if we can’t do it, then, man, we need to really look deeply about what is going on with this situation,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis also highlighted a few university roles he believes Americans should fill, including positions like assistant swim coach and graphic designer, which he asserted were filled at some institutions via the H-1B visa.

“Are you serious? We can’t find an assistant swim coach in this nation?” he asked.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, there are 150 H-1B employees at the University of Florida, 69 at Florida State University, 72 at the University of South Florida and 28 at the University of Central Florida.

UCF professor Dr. Francisco Fernandez noted that the United States invests heavily in research compared to other countries.

“If you want to develop whatever type of program that you have in your mind, I mean, this is the country to do it,” Fernandez said.

Immigration experts said the program is designed to bring in workers who bolster the domestic workforce — rather than compete.

“Our legal immigration system and how it’s built in general, is that the idea that we are bringing in people who are complementary to the U.S. workforce,” said Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh of the Immigration Policy Institute.

Meanwhile, at least one Democratic lawmaker rebuked the move as performative and costly.

“I think we’re ultimately going to lose out if we don’t have that experience and global perspective,” St. Petersburg State Rep. Lindsay Cross said.

The Florida Board of Governors is scheduled to meet next week.