US judge upholds Trump's $100,000 fee on H-1B visas despite business backlash

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US judge upholds Trump's $100,000 fee on H-1B visas despite business backlash

2 hours ago

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US judge upholds Trump's $100,000 fee on H-1B visas despite business backlash

Credited from: REUTERS

A federal judge has upheld Trump's $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, asserting the president's authority on immigration.
The ruling follows challenges from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and universities, which argue the fee is detrimental to businesses.
The decision comes amid broader immigration reforms impacting skilled foreign workers in the U.S.

A U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell has upheld President Donald Trump’s controversial $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, emphasizing the president's broad powers to regulate immigration. In her ruling, Howell rejected challenges from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Universities, stating that the imposition of such a fee is within Trump's statutory authority, given that it addresses economic and national security concerns. “The lawfulness of the Proclamation rests on a straightforward reading of congressional statutes,” she noted, highlighting the administration's justification for the fee, which was announced with only 36 hours of notice to businesses, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

India Times and India Times.

This legal development is part of a broader immigration crackdown initiated by the Trump administration, which has been criticized for potentially escalating costs for firms reliant on the H-1B program. The judge acknowledged that the implementation could “inflict significant harm on American businesses,” yet maintained that the administration's actions fell within legal bounds. These decisions reflect a shift away from a lottery system for H-1B visas, now prioritizing higher-paid skilled foreign labor, further complicating the landscape for employers, according to South China Morning Post and Reuters.