Trump's $100,000 high-skilled worker visa fee deemed unlawful by federal judge; Congress approves billions for immigration agencies

The U.S. Congress has approved a significant funding package of nearly $70 billion for immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE and CBP, through 2029. This move, narrowly passed by the House of Representatives after clearing the Senate, enables the Trump administration to continue its stringent immigration policies throughout his second term. Democrats had sought to attach stricter conditions to the funding, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

In a separate development, a federal judge in Boston declared Donald Trump's $100,000 fee for high-skilled worker visas unlawful. Trump had increased fees for H-1B visa applications from $2,000-$5,000 to $100,000, framing it as a penalty permissible under immigration law to restrict entry for certain foreign nationals. However, the judge ruled that the fee constitutes a tax, which Trump lacked the authority from Congress to impose.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew controversy during a D-Day commemoration in Normandy, France. Speaking at an American cemetery, Hegseth compared current migration flows into Europe to an "invasion." He questioned when European capitals would act against this perceived influx, suggesting it might already be too late. The U.S. administration has frequently criticized European migration policies, alleging dangers posed by an "invasion" of immigrants.

Additionally, a federal district court ruled that the indefinite and blanket suspension of immigration applications by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is illegal. The court found that USCIS had implemented measures that negatively impacted numerous immigrants.

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When will the European capitals do something about this invasion, or is it already too late?