A coalition of healthcare providers, religious organizations, and university professors filed a federal lawsuit on Friday to block a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications. President Donald Trump signed the proclamation on Sept. 19, and the changes were set to take effect within 36 hours. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco argues the fee creates chaos for employers, workers, and federal agencies while threatening hospitals, churches, classrooms, and industries that rely on specialized workers.
Democracy Forward Foundation and Justice Action Center contend the fee amounts to an illegal executive overreach, as Congress created the H-1B program, and Trump cannot impose new taxes through executive order. About one-third of H-1B workers serve as nurses, teachers, physicians, scholars, priests, and pastors. Amazon received more than 10,000 H-1B visas this year, while California hosts the highest number of H-1B workers. Critics argue that the program allows companies to hire overseas workers at lower salaries than American technology professionals.
Democracy Forward Foundation and Justice Action Center contend the fee amounts to an illegal executive overreach, as Congress created the H-1B program, and Trump cannot impose new taxes through executive order. About one-third of H-1B workers serve as nurses, teachers, physicians, scholars, priests, and pastors. Amazon received more than 10,000 H-1B visas this year, while California hosts the highest number of H-1B workers. Critics argue that the program allows companies to hire overseas workers at lower salaries than American technology professionals.
