BIG setback for Trump as 19 US states challenge his ‘unlawful H-1B visa fee hike, warn it would lead to…

In September, US President Donald Trump imposed a $100,000 fee on H1-B visa applications.

H-1B visa fee hike: In a setback for US Donald Trump, nineteen US states have sued his administration for what they called an “unlawful” decision to hike the fee on new H-1B visa applications to a whopping $100,000.

19 states challenge Trump’s H-1B visa fee hike

A lawsuit was filed Friday in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts by New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with 18 other attorneys generals, to challenge what they termed a “massive” increase in H-1B fees without legal authority or due process.

The lawsuit warned that Trump’s move to hike H-1B visa fee will worsen labour shortages in key sectors such as health care, education and technology, arguing that it would make the H-1B visa programme effectively inaccessible for government and non-profit employers that depend on H-1B workers to provide essential services in health care, education, technology, and other fields.

“H-1B visas allow talented doctors, nurses, teachers, and other workers to serve communities in need across our country. The administration’s illegal attempt to ruin this programme will make it harder for New Yorkers to get health care, disrupt our children’s education, and hurt our economy. I will keep fighting to stop this chaos and cruelty targeting immigrant communities,” James said in a statement.

The coalition contended that the fee hike is is “unlawful” and violates the Administrative Procedure Act as well as the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Trump administration imposed it without congressional approval or the required rule-making process.

Apart from James, the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, are also part of joint lawsuit.

Why Trump hiked H-1B visa fees?

In September, US President Donald Trump imposed a $100,000 fee on H1-B visa applications, which is likely to have the most impact on Indian professionals as they are biggest beneficiaries of the program, with about 71% of recipients last year being Indian citizens.

Trump’s move to hike H-1B visa fees is being viewed as an extension of his “America First” policy as his administration ramps up efforts to crack down on immigration. Experts believe that costly H-1B visas will force US firms to cut down on foreign workforce, and force them to hire US citizens at higher salaries, driving up operational costs.

Trump has also cited alleged ‘abuse’ of the H-1B programme a “national security threat” as he signed the proclamation restricting entry of certain non-immigrant workers.

(With inputs from agencies)