International Desk
A United States federal judge has upheld President Donald Trump’s controversial $100,000 application fee for H-1B work visas, a key program heavily relied upon by the tech industry, including Silicon Valley.
In a 56-page opinion on Tuesday, US District Judge Beryl Howell acknowledged that the massive fee, announced with just 36 hours’ notice in September, could “inflict significant harm on American businesses and institutions of higher education.”
Despite this, the judge ruled that the president has “broad statutory authority” to address what he perceives as an economic and national security problem.
A Blow to Business and Universities
The lawsuit was brought by the US Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Universities, who argued the fee would severely damage innovation and productivity. The plaintiffs stated that H-1B workers “contribute enormously to American prosperity.”
President Trump has argued the visa system is abused to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor. The US awards 85,000 H-1B visas annually via lottery, with India accounting for about 75% of recipients.
Tech leaders, including Elon Musk, have warned that the US lacks enough homegrown talent to fill critical tech jobs. The ruling represents a victory for Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda, though at least two other lawsuits challenging the fee are still ongoing.
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Disclaimer:
This report is based on international court rulings and news agency reports. Immigration policies are subject to further legal challenges and change. CDA News Nigeria is an independent digital news platform.
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