20 States Sue US Government Over H-1B Visa Fee Increase
A new legal battle is brewing in the United States regarding the recently increased fee for H-1B visas. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced that he, along with 19 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the policy introduced by the Trump administration. The new regulation raises the fee on new H-1B visa applications to an unprecedented $100,000, which Bonta claims is illegal and not in line with what Congress had approved.
At a press conference in San Francisco, Bonta emphasized that “no presidential administration can rewrite immigration law,” stressing the importance of adhering to constitutional guidelines and congressional authority.
Many technology companies, including giants such as Amazon and Google, are significant users of the H-1B visa program to hire skilled workers from abroad. Critics argue that these firms often choose foreign workers to save costs instead of hiring American workers. Bonta expressed that the increased fees could worsen labor shortages in vital sectors like healthcare, education, and public services, making it more challenging to find qualified professionals like doctors and teachers.
The fee hike was introduced through a proclamation by President Trump in September and will be managed at the discretion of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The debate over H-1B visas has been ongoing, as some believe they are essential for attracting global talent in the tech industry.
The White House responded to the lawsuit through spokesperson Taylor Rogers, defending the fee increase as lawful and necessary for reforming the H-1B program. Rogers stated that the adjustment aims to “put American workers first” and to prevent companies from exploiting the system.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and various research universities also filed lawsuits against the increased fee, claiming that it defies the legal provisions governing the H-1B program. This latest lawsuit will be filed in a federal court in Massachusetts, led by California AG Bonta and Massachusetts AG Andrea Joy Campbell.
