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California Prof warning on H-1B freeze impact
He argued that restricting access to global talent through the H-1B visa freeze would damage research quality and long-term academic competitiveness.
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Rwittika Chakraborty
- Thu, 29, Jan 2026
- 00:53 EST
- 18
California Uni Prof. Jelani Nelson / people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~minilek/
California University professor, Jelani Nelson, has highlighted the potential negative impact that a freeze on new H-1B visa petitions can have on higher education in Texas and across the U.S. by citing examples of notable foreign-born academics, including E. C. George Sudarshan, who have made significant contributions during their respective tenure at the University of Texas at Austin.
Nelson, a computer science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, took to social media and spoke about the importance of international recruitment, which has been key to the success of leading universities.
ALSO READ: Texas governor questions H-1B visas in state schools
He argued that restricting access to global talent through the H-1B visa freeze would damage research quality and long-term academic competitiveness.
Nelson’s post on X comes as a response to a directive by Texas Governor Greg Abbott instructing state agencies and public universities to hold new H-1B visa petitions, a move reportedly intended to prioritise jobs for Texans.
His list of global academics included careers that showcase how international scholars have shaped Texas' research reputation, as he mentioned that top universities function in a global talent market, limiting which leads to the risks of a decline in academic standards rather than boosting local opportunities.
Nelson clarified that the list reflects scholarly impact, and not visa status.
Nelson’s list includes Professor E. C. George Sudarshan at the University of Texas, who was born in Kerala, India, and established himself as a leading figure in theoretical physics whose work reshaped quantum optics and particle theory.
Sudarshan co-developed ideas central to modern quantum optics and advanced understanding of weak interactions.
At the University of Texas at Austin, he helped create a strong theoretical physics culture while his mentorship aided generations of physicists and contributed to UT Austin's reputation as a notable centre for advanced physics research.
The list also includes Edsger Dijkstra, Luis Caffarelli, Ilya Prigogine, Allan MacDonald, Keiko Torii, and George Georgiou.
Nelson’s post sparked debate among netizens, with some suggesting alternative visa categories for elite academics while others supported his outlook.
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