Federal judge rules Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas unlawful

A federal judge in Boston has ruled that former President Trump's $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications was unlawful. US District Judge Leo Sorokin found the fee to be an unconstitutional tax, exceeding presidential authority and violating federal administrative law. The ruling, issued in response to a lawsuit by 20 Democratic state attorneys general, vacated the fee, which represented a significant increase over existing rates. The Trump administration had justified the charge by arguing the H-1B program led to the replacement of American workers. This decision provides relief to tech companies heavily reliant on the H-1B visa program for hiring skilled foreign workers. The administration is expected to appeal the ruling.

A federal judge in Boston has struck down a $100,000 fee imposed by President Donald Trump on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. US District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled on Monday that the fee was an unlawful tax, as it was not authorized by Congress. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the fee increase announced in September. The H-1B program provides 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 for workers with advanced degrees.

A federal judge in Boston has struck down a $100,000 fee imposed by former President Donald Trump on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. US District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled on Monday that the fee was an unlawful tax that Trump did not have the authority from Congress to impose. The fee, announced in September, dramatically increased the cost of obtaining these visas, which typically ranged from $2,000 to $5,000. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general. The judge concluded that the fee's substance and application demonstrated it was a tax, not a penalty as the administration had argued.