US judge rules Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee unlawful
A federal judge in Massachusetts said the steep H-1B application fee functioned as an unlawful tax, a decision that eases pressure on technology companies that depend on skilled foreign workers.
Fact Check
Multiple sources confirm the claim. Investing.com reports U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston (District of Massachusetts) ruled the $100,000 H-1B fee unlawful. BlockBeats confirms the June 9 ruling and characterizes it as an unlawful tax. Reuters' May 29 coverage of the hearing establishes the litigation context and that plaintiffs argued the fee was an unlawful tax — matching the claim's language. The California AG press release confirms the underlying multi-state lawsuit.
Summary
A federal judge on June 9 struck down Donald Trump's order imposing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, handing a setback to a Trump-era immigration measure affecting U.S. employers that hire skilled foreign workers. Massachusetts District Judge Leo T. Sorokin ruled the sharp increase amounted to an unlawful tax and must be vacated. The decision eases pressure on U.S. technology companies that rely on the visa program, though the U.S. government is expected to appeal.
Terms & Concepts
- H-1B visa: A U.S. visa category that allows employers to hire skilled foreign workers in specialized occupations.