Federal Judge Strikes Down President Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee as Unlawful Tax
A federal judge has invalidated a $100,000 fee imposed by President Trump on new H-1B visas, ruling it as an unauthorized tax. The decision was made by U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston, following a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general. The fee, announced in September, significantly increased the cost of obtaining H-1B visas, which are crucial for tech companies to hire foreign skilled workers. The Trump administration argued that the fee was a lawful penalty under immigration law, which allows the president to restrict foreign nationals' entry if deemed detrimental to U.S. interests. However, Judge Sorokin concluded that the fee was a tax that lacked congressional authorization, referencing a Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump's tariffs under similar reasoning. 
