California and 19 other U.S. states have filed a lawsuit to block the $100,000 fee imposed by President Donald Trump on H-1B visas, which are intended for highly skilled foreign professionals.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, is the third legal challenge against this fee. Trump announced the measure in September, significantly increasing the cost of obtaining H-1B visas. Currently, employers pay between $2,000 and $5,000 per employee for the visa.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated in a press release that Trump lacks the authority to impose this fee and that it violates federal law, which allows immigration authorities to charge only fees necessary to cover the administrative costs of visa programs.
States joining California in the lawsuit include New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, and Washington.
In response to the lawsuits, the White House said the new fee is a lawful exercise of Trump’s authority and is intended to discourage employers from abusing the H-1B program.
