WASHINGTON – California and 19 other US states filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block President Donald Trump’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers.
The legal challenge, filed in Boston, is at least the third targeting the fee announced in September, which sharply increases the cost of obtaining H-1B visas, typically ranging from $2,000 to $5,000.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta argued the fee exceeds Trump’s authority and violates federal law, which allows visa fees only to cover administrative costs rather than generate additional revenue for the government.
The H-1B visa program enables US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty fields, including technology, healthcare, and education, sectors heavily reliant on skilled international talent to address labor shortages.
States such as New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, and Washington joined California, highlighting concerns that the $100,000 fee would impose heavy financial burdens and potentially reduce essential public services across the country.
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While the White House claims the fee is lawful and discourages abuse of the H-1B program, major companies and industry groups maintain that skilled foreign workers remain crucial for economic growth and innovation.
The lawsuit underscores tension between federal executive power and congressional authority over revenue, with courts set to review whether the Trump administration can impose such fees unilaterally without legislative approval.