Groups Sue to Block $100,000 H‑1B Fee

A coalition of health‑care staffing firms, unions, religious groups, university professors and employer organizations filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of California seeking to block President Trump’s proclamation that imposes a $100,000 fee on new H‑1B visa petitions, naming the administration and agencies including DHS and Customs and Border Protection as defendants. Plaintiffs — including the United Auto Workers, the American Association of University Professors and a global nurse‑staffing agency — say the president lacks statutory authority to impose the surcharge, that it would effectively shut off access to the H‑1B program and force hospitals, schools, churches, tech and chip companies to lose critical staff and innovators, and are asking the court for an immediate injunction. Business groups warned the fee would harm the U.S. economy and choke a vital talent pipeline, and some analysts have estimated potential annual employer costs in the billions; employers have also warned H‑1B workers against international travel amid the uncertainty. The White House says the surcharge applies only to new H‑1B petitions and not to existing H‑1B holders or renewals. The complaint names multiple federal agencies as defendants and seeks to restore predictability for employers and workers while challenging the president’s authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act.