US Court Strikes Down $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee, Trump Calls It ‘Crazy’
US court cancels $100,000 H-1B fee, Trump criticises ruling.
US President Donald Trump has criticised American courts after a federal judge struck down a $100,000 fee imposed on H-1B visa applications, calling the decision harmful to US interests and reiterating his administration’s stance on tighter immigration-linked regulations. The reaction came after US District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled that the $100,000 fee on H-1B visas was “unlawful” and had not been authorised by the US Congress.
The ruling effectively invalidates a key policy measure introduced during Trump’s earlier immigration reforms targeting skilled foreign worker entry into the United States. Speaking after the decision, Donald Trump said the court’s intervention was “really crazy,” arguing that such rulings undermine efforts to regulate immigration and protect domestic employment opportunities. He suggested that the decision would have broader implications for the government’s ability to implement visa-related policy changes without legislative backing.
The H-1B visa programme, a key pathway for skilled foreign professionals—particularly in technology and engineering sectors—has long been a point of political debate in the United States. Supporters argue it helps address labour shortages and attracts global talent, while critics, including Trump and his allies, have often contended that it can suppress wages and reduce opportunities for American workers.
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Judge Sorokin’s ruling centred on statutory authority, with the court concluding that the executive branch lacked the legal mandate to impose such a high fee without explicit congressional approval. The decision is expected to prompt further legal and policy discussions on the extent of executive power in shaping immigration and visa fee structures.
The ruling and Trump’s response come amid continuing political divisions in Washington over immigration policy, particularly regarding high-skilled worker visas. While the court decision removes the contested fee, it is likely to intensify debate over future reforms to the H-1B system, which remains central to the United States’ technology-driven labour market.
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