Twenty states sue to block $100,000 H-1B visa fee

The attorneys general of 20 states, including California and New York, sued the Trump administration on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to block a $100,000 fee on visas for skilled foreign workers. President Trump signed a proclamation in September imposing the fee, and his administration has argued that some employers had abused the H-1B program to keep wages low, hurting American workers.

The policy took effect on Sept. 21. The states have asked a federal court to declare the policy unlawful and to block its enforcement. The H-1B program allows employers to hire foreign workers with specialized skills for jobs where U.S. workers with similar qualifications cannot be found, mainly in science and technology.

California and Massachusetts were the lead plaintiffs; California-based tech companies including Meta, Google and Apple were among the largest employers of H-1B holders this year, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Schools and universities also use the program.

"The $100,000 visa fee is devastating for all states, including California, and threatens the quality of education, health care and other core services available to our residents," Attorney General Rob Bonta of California said in a statement. An earlier challenge to the fee was filed in October by unions, higher-education professionals and religious organizations.

Key Topics

Politics, Trump Administration, California, Massachusetts, Meta, Rob Bonta