Overview
- James Fishback said on X that, if elected governor, he would fire every H‑1B holder working in Florida state agencies and cancel state contracts with firms that employ H‑1B workers, adding that violators would face large fines.
- He has vowed to eliminate the H‑1B program entirely, arguing it blocks jobs for Americans and unfairly advantages immigrants from India, and he is campaigning on a call for a moratorium on legal immigration.
- In a CNN interview, Fishback said he is singling out Indian Americans because they receive about 77% of H‑1B visas.
- Online critics questioned the legality and practicality of his plan, noting H‑1B holders are largely in the private sector and warning that penalizing legal visa professionals could push skilled talent to other states or countries.
- Positioning himself as an immigration-first outsider, Fishback attacked Trump-endorsed rival Byron Donalds even as he said he supports President Trump but opposes his backing of high-skilled visa programs.