'Unlawful Tax': Court Rejects Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Plan

In a significant setback for US President Donald Trump's immigration agenda, a federal court in Massachusetts has struck down the administration's controversial $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The court ruled that the fee amounted to an unlawful tax and noted that Congress had never authorised the president to impose such a charge. The Trump administration had defended the measure as a way to curb misuse of the H-1B programme and protect American workers. The ruling is expected to bring relief to thousands of highly skilled foreign professionals, particularly Indians, who make up the largest share of H-1B visa holders in the United States. The proposed fee had sparked concerns among employers and applicants and reportedly contributed to a sharp decline in visa registrations. The court has now vacated the policy in its entirety, marking a major legal challenge to one of the administration's key immigration measures.