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The Trump administration will appeal a federal judge’s order striking down a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.
The Justice Department filed a notice on Thursday that it will appeal the Monday ruling, which was a major blow to the president’s campaign to restrict immigration and boost demand for US workers.
US District Judge Leo T. Sorokin in Boston sided with a group of states that sued over the policy, finding that the president’s decree dramatically increasing the cost of the popular visa is an illegal tax.
The H-1B visa programme is a cornerstone of employment-based immigration, allowing companies in the US to hire college-educated foreign workers for specialised occupations. In September, Trump signed a proclamation to increase the application fee to discourage companies from abusing a programme that he claimed displaces US workers.
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The case is one of at least three lawsuits challenging the president’s initiative. The US Chamber of Commerce and a nurse recruiting firm are pursuing two separate cases against the administration’s policy.
In December, a judge rejected the Chamber’s request to block the fee and the Chamber appealed the decision to a federal appeals court in Washington.
The case is State of California v. Mullin, 25-cv-13829, US District Court, District of Massachusetts.
By Madlin Mekelburg
Learn more:
Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Is Unlawful, US Judge Rules
Previous BoF analysis found hundreds of workers employed by dozens of fashion and beauty companies use the H-1B visa for skilled workers.
