US Judge blocks Trump's $100K H-1B visa fee plan

A U.S. federal judge has halted President Donald Trump's controversial plan to impose a $100,000 fee on employers seeking to hire foreign professionals through the H-1B visa program. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ruled that the fee, introduced via a proclamation in September 2025 and implemented by the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, infringed upon the principle of separation of powers.

Trump and his administration had argued that the H-1B program was being exploited, leading to the displacement of American workers who were being laid off in favor of foreign employees hired at lower wages. Trump contended that such "abuses" posed a national security threat by discouraging Americans from pursuing careers in science and technology, potentially jeopardizing U.S. leadership in these critical fields.

This ruling follows a previous decision in a similar case where a federal judge in Washington, D.C. had sided with the Trump administration, granting it authority to impose the fee. However, Judge Stearns' judgment was guided by a subsequent Supreme Court tariff ruling. The H-1B visa program is designed to allow employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers for specialized roles, provided their employment does not negatively impact the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers. Annual visa caps are set by Congress, with exemptions for those holding master's degrees or higher.

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Abuses of the H-1B programme present a national security threat by discouraging Americans from pursuing careers in science and technology, risking American leadership in these fields.