WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is gearing up to defend its controversial $100,000 fee hike on new H-1B visa applications in court, amid a series of lawsuits filed by technology firms and immigration advocacy groups, ANI reported on Thursday (local time).
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the government remains firm on its stance that the new policy is both lawful and necessary, asserting that the H-1B visa system has long been misused to undercut American workers’ wages.
White House defends fee hike policy
“The administration will fight these lawsuits in court. The president’s main priority has always been to put American workers first and to strengthen our visa system,” Leavitt said during a press briefing.
She claimed that widespread fraud had plagued the programme, saying, “For far too long, the H-1B visa system has been spammed with fraud, and that’s driven down American wages. The president wants to refine this system, which is part of the reason he implemented these new policies.”
Criticism and lawsuits mount
The steep $100,000 fee—announced earlier this month—has sparked strong backlash from several U.S. companies, particularly in the tech and IT sectors, which rely heavily on skilled foreign workers under the H-1B programme.
Critics argue that the hike would severely impact smaller firms and startups that depend on international talent to fill critical skill gaps.
Multiple lawsuits have already been filed in federal courts challenging the legality of the fee hike, calling it an “economic deterrent” that violates existing immigration and labour laws.
Administration stands firm
Despite the legal pushback, Leavitt reiterated that the administration remains committed to its “America First” policy framework. “These actions are lawful, they are necessary, and we’ll continue to fight this battle in court,” she said.
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Trump administration H-1B policy, H-1B visa fee hike 2025, US immigration reforms, Karoline Leavitt White House statement, lawsuits against H-1B fee increase
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Trump to defend $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike amid lawsuits
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The Trump administration will fight court challenges to its $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike, saying the move is necessary to protect American workers.