A federal judge struck down the Trump administration's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. The fee, announced in September 2025, was ruled an unlawful tax by U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston. The lawsuit challenging the fee was filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general. The H-1B visa program allows companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialized skills for employment in the United States and grants 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 for workers holding advanced degrees. The judge ruled the fee violated the Administrative Procedure Act, according to gdelt. The Trump administration stated the purpose of the fee was to prevent foreign workers from taking American jobs. Prior to the fee increase, employers typically paid between $2,000 and $5,000 in fees for an H-1B visa, according to independent.co.uk. Contradicting an earlier federal court ruling upholding the fee hike, this decision marks a legal reversal. The Trump administration plans to appeal the ruling, according to hindustantimes. Democratic party members supported the court’s decision, according to hindustantimes. Nearly three-quarters of H-1B visa approvals go to workers from India, according to gdelt. The Trump administration proposed a new visa selection process that would favor higher-skilled and better-paid workers, according to independent.co.uk.