Judge Voids Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Fee as White House Appeals
Updated
Updated · OCRegister · Jun 8
Judge Voids Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Fee as White House Appeals
3 articles · Updated · OCRegister · Jun 8
Summary
US District Judge Leo Sorokin vacated Trump’s $100,000 H-1B application fee, ruling the sharp increase was an unlawful tax that cannot stand without clear congressional authorization.
Sorokin said the president exceeded his authority by imposing a levy on visa petitions, citing the Supreme Court’s recent decision against Trump’s global tariffs as support for limits on unilateral taxing power.
The White House said it will appeal, arguing Trump has broad authority to restrict entry and that a separate federal judge in Washington upheld a nearly identical order.
California and 19 other states sued over the fee, saying it would hurt employers in technology, education and healthcare that rely on the H-1B program for specialized workers.
The ruling undercuts a broader Trump push to tighten high-skilled immigration, including proposed higher H-1B wage floors and lottery changes favoring the highest-paid applicants.