Leo Sorokin

US District Judge Leo Sorokin, based in Boston, recently issued a significant ruling invalidating a $100,000 annual fee imposed by former President Donald Trump on H-1B visa applications. Judge Sorokin determined that this fee constituted an unlawful tax, exceeding the executive branch's authority and violating federal administrative law and the Constitution, as Congress had not authorized such a charge. This decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the fee, which dramatically increased the cost of obtaining H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. The ruling is relevant as it directly impacts immigration policy and the financial burden on businesses seeking to employ foreign talent. Judge Sorokin's judgment underscores the legal constraints on executive actions related to taxation and immigration.