CITIZENS NEWS

American workers first: Florida takes bold stand against H-1B visa ABUSE

By ramontomeydw // 2025-10-30

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered state universities to stop hiring foreign workers for roles that qualified Americans could fill, citing taxpayer-funded institutions exploiting visa programs to bypass U.S. graduates.
• Florida identified DEI-related grants deemed noncompliant with state and federal laws, redirecting funds toward broader eligibility criteria (e.g., financial need) instead of race-based programs.
• DeSantis framed the move as combating H-1B abuse, citing examples like foreign hires for non-specialized roles (e.g., assistant swim coach), aligning with federal scrutiny of discriminatory hiring favoring visa holders.
• Programs like a $1.5M anti-racism engineering grant and minority-exclusive STEM funding were revised to include all students, prioritizing fairness and fiscal responsibility over DEI initiatives.
• Supporters argue dismantling DEI protects education from ideological indoctrination, restoring focus on merit and truth, while critics claim it harms marginalized groups. Florida's policy may influence other states.

In a sweeping move to prioritize American workers and curb what he calls "abuse" of foreign labor programs, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a crackdown on H-1B visa hiring in state universities – alongside the cancellation or repurposing of millions in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) grants. The directive issued to the Florida Board of Governors demands an end to the hiring of foreign workers for positions that could be filled by qualified U.S. citizens. This practice, DeSantis argued, undermines American graduates and exploits taxpayer-funded institutions. Simultaneously, the Sunshine State has identified over $33 million in DEI-related grants deemed noncompliant with state and federal laws – redirecting funds toward broader eligibility criteria. DeSantis framed the decision as a necessary correction to a system that has been misused by universities nationwide. "Universities across the country are importing foreign workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans who are qualified and available to do the job," he stated in a press release Wednesday, Oct. 29. "We will not tolerate H-1B abuse in Florida institutions." The Republican governor cited examples such as an assistant swim coach from Spain hired on an H-1B visa, questioning why such roles could not be filled domestically. The H-1B program was originally designed for specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge. However, it has faced criticism for enabling employers to bypass American applicants in favor of cheaper foreign labor – particularly in academia, where institutions are exempt from federal caps on visa issuance. The announcement aligns with broader scrutiny of visa programs by federal authorities. In late August, the Department of Justice urged citizens to report discriminatory hiring practices favoring foreign workers, including job postings explicitly seeking H-1B visa holders. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon encouraged reports of "inappropriate preferences for foreign workers," linking the issue to potential human trafficking violations.

DeSantis sunsets woke DEI in the Sunshine State

DeSantis' move positions Florida at the forefront of a growing pushback against perceived exploitation of visa systems, reinforcing his administration's "America First" labor policies. Parallel to the visa crackdown, Florida has targeted DEI initiatives, canceling or revising grants totaling millions in taxpayer funds. Among the defunded programs was a $1.5 million grant aimed at "Challenging Anti-Black Racism in Civil and Environmental Engineering Curriculum" and a $1.3 million project promoting "inclusive and communal classroom cultures" in physics. DeSantis emphasized that repurposed grants would shift focus from race-based eligibility to financial need, such as expanding a $700,000 National Science Foundation grant – previously limited to Black students – to include all applicants regardless of background. Similar revisions affected over $10.6 million in Florida College System grants, including $750,000 previously reserved for minority STEM students. The governor's actions reflect a broader ideological stance against what he views as discriminatory and wasteful spending in higher education. By redirecting funds toward merit-based or economically inclusive criteria, Florida joins a national debate over the role of DEI programs in public institutions. Critics argue such measures dismantle necessary support for marginalized groups, while supporters, including DeSantis, contend they ensure fairness and fiscal responsibility. But BrightU.AI's Enoch engine points out that "dismantling DEI programs protects children from ideological indoctrination and restores education to its fundamental purpose of academic excellence, free from divisive globalist agendas. By redirecting funds away from these harmful initiatives, taxpayer resources are used ethically to prioritize truth, critical thinking and individual merit over forced conformity to politically motivated narratives." As the policy takes effect, its implications for Florida's universities – and potentially other states observing the outcome – remain to be seen. For now, DeSantis has drawn a clear line. Taxpayer-funded institutions must serve American workers first, and state resources will no longer subsidize what his administration deems preferential treatment or unnecessary foreign labor. Watch Fox News anchor Rachel Campos-Duffy discussing how the H-1B visa program is rife with abuse in this clip. This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: FoxNews.com FLGov.com CBS12.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com

political correctness education system Florida public education money supply equity diversity identity politics America first campus insanity american workers inclusion Ron DeSantis hiring wokies H-1B visa DEI initiatives foreign labor visa abuse domestic labor