A coalition of American workers across multiple sectors has dragged the Trump administration to court over the newly introduced $100,000 H-1B visa fee, arguing that the policy is unlawful and poses a threat to the country’s workforce and economy.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco, was brought forward by a group representing health care professionals, academics, and religious organizations.
They contended that the sudden fee hike would disrupt hospitals, universities, churches, and industries that rely heavily on skilled foreign workers.
“Without relief, hospitals will lose medical staff, churches will lose pastors, classrooms will lose teachers, and industries across the country risk losing key innovators,” the coalition said in a statement, urging the court to block the directive and restore stability for employers and employees.
The rule, announced last month with only 36 hours’ notice before taking effect, triggered widespread confusion among companies about compliance and who would be affected.
The Trump administration defended the policy as part of its broader crackdown on immigration, with President Trump maintaining that the H-1B program has been misused by firms to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
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The United States issues about 85,000 H-1B visas annually through a lottery system, with Indian workers making up roughly three-quarters of recipients.
The visas are especially vital to the tech sector, which has long argued that the U.S. does not produce enough homegrown talent to fill its high-skill job vacancies.
Tech leaders, including Elon Musk, a former Trump ally, have voiced concern that targeting the H-1B program would harm innovation and weaken America’s competitiveness.
The coalition is now pressing for an immediate injunction, warning that the steep fee could shut the door on talent pipelines that power industries from Silicon Valley to small-town hospitals.