U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston struck down President Donald Trump's September policy imposing a 00,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, ruling it an unlawful tax rather than a permissible fee. This decision provides a reprieve for U.S. technology companies, which heavily rely on hiring skilled foreign workers through the H-1B program, and marks a significant setback for the administration's immigration restriction efforts.\n\nThe judge sided with California and 19 other states, which argued that the policy exceeded Trump's executive authority, particularly in imposing a tax without congressional approval. The ruling specifically cited the Supreme Court's February decision overturning Trump's global tariffs, concluding that the president lacked the power to levy such charges without explicit delegation from lawmakers. Previously, H-1B application fees typically ranged from ,000 to ,000.\n\nWhile the White House has stated its intent to appeal the decision, affirming confidence that the order will be reversed, this ruling creates divided opinions among federal courts. Another judge in Washington D.C. had previously upheld Trump's authority to impose the fee, and a lawsuit by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce against the fee is currently pending in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Additionally, a separate challenge by healthcare organizations, labor unions, and workers is pending in a California federal court.
