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

A Boston federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, ruling the policy exceeded the executive branch’s authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The decision clarifies that a tax-like fee requires explicit congressional delegation. H-1B visas target high-skilled workers, with technology firms among the largest users; about 75% of approvals go to workers from India. States argued the higher fee could blunt hiring for teachers, doctors, and researchers. The ruling leaves the higher fee in limbo until September 2026, as multiple lawsuits proceed in other courts; Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell praised the decision, and the AMA called it a patient-centric victory.