20 US states stand against H-1B visa fees, issue this warning

News Topical, Digital Desk : Twenty US states have come out against the $100,000 fee imposed by the Trump administration for H-1B visas, warning that the move will disrupt the functioning of schools and hospitals across the country and prevent skilled talent from coming to the US.

This legal challenge is of particular importance to Indian professionals, who constitute a significant portion of H-1B visa holders. A multi-state amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs in the case, Global Nurse Force, et al. v. Trump, has urged the District Court of California to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the policy.

What argument was given?

It was argued that this fee was illegal and contrary to the public interest, as it would lead to labour shortages, weaken the economy and disrupt essential public services.

The states argue that the $100,000 fee would effectively exclude public employers from the program. They noted that the country faces a teacher shortage, with 74 percent of school districts reporting difficulty filling vacant positions for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Teachers are the third-largest occupational group among H-1B visa holders, with 30,000 people working on this visa. Nearly a thousand colleges and universities rely on H-1B workers to support teaching and research.

States issued warnings

States have warned that this will lead to increased classroom overcrowding, reduced course loads, and program cuts. This will lower the quality of education, directly impacting students.

127 US lawmakers warn against changes to public charge rules

A group of 127 US lawmakers has urged the Trump administration to withdraw proposed changes to the public charge rule, saying it would create uncertainty in the legal immigration system, especially for families who are in the process of transitioning from H-1B visas to green cards.

110 Congressmen and 17 Senators have written a letter calling on the Department of Homeland Security to abandon the proposal and maintain the current public charge rules through 2022. The public charge rule is a US immigration policy that bars visas or green cards from being granted to immigrants who are suspected of becoming dependent on government benefits, such as Medicaid.

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