Federal judge strikes down Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas

Key Points:

• A federal judge in Boston struck down the Trump administration's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, ruling that the policy exceeded executive authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act.
• The fee hike was intended to prevent foreign workers from taking American jobs, but 20 states argued it would hinder hiring in critical sectors like education, healthcare, and medical research.
• The ruling contrasts with an earlier federal court decision upholding the fee, and multiple lawsuits on the issue are pending in different jurisdictions, potentially leading to conflicting appellate court decisions.
• Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and the American Medical Association praised the decision for protecting labor shortages and supporting international medical graduates who serve underserved communities.
• The Department of Homeland Security criticized the ruling as judicial activism and affirmed the administration's commitment to immigration reform aimed at prioritizing American workers, with the White House expressing confidence the decision will be overturned on appeal.