James Sues to Halt $100K Fee on H-1B Visas

New York – In a bold move to protect immigrant workers, Attorney General Letitia James has joined forces with 18 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit targets an unlawful $100,000 fee imposed on H-1B visa applications by the administration, which could cripple essential services across the nation.

The H-1B visa program, which has been in place since the 1990s, enables highly skilled immigrants to work temporarily in the U.S. This visa is crucial for filling labor shortages in sectors like health care, education, and technology. However, the administration’s unprecedented fee hike threatens to shut out many potential workers, including teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and researchers.

‘H-1B visas allow talented professionals to serve our communities, but this illegal attempt to destroy the program will harm New Yorkers by making it harder to access healthcare and disrupting education,’ said Attorney General James. ‘I am committed to fighting this injustice and protecting our immigrant workforce.’

New York is home to more than 13,000 H-1B visa recipients, working in fields like technology and finance. The state’s rural counties already face a doctor shortage, with only four primary care physicians for every 10,000 people. A reduction in H-1B workers would worsen this crisis, as over a third of New York’s healthcare workers are immigrants.

The lawsuit argues that the new fee violates the Administrative Procedure Act and hampers states’ ability to address labor shortages. Limiting access to H-1B visas will impact at least 930 colleges and universities across the country, including many in New York State through the SUNY system.

Attorney General James and her coalition are determined to uphold the integrity of the H-1B visa program and ensure that essential services remain accessible to all. The lawsuit is currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

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