Second federal judge blocks Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee
US District Judge Haywood Gilliam in Oakland blocked the $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas on 30 September, saying agencies skipped required rule-making. A Boston judge had blocked it in June in a separate case.
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The story, neutrally told
On 30 September, US District Judge Haywood Gilliam in Oakland, California, blocked the $100,000 fee President Donald Trump imposed on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. The Straits TimesRC “US District Judge Haywood Gilliam in Oakland, California, ruled that US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department failed to follow necessary rule-making processes” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Times of IndiaN “A second US federal judge has blocked US President Donald Trump’s $100,000 fee” Read at The Times of India ↗ He ruled that US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department did not follow required rule-making procedures before putting the fee into effect. The Times of IndiaN “failed to follow required rule-making procedures before putting the fee into effect” Read at The Times of India ↗ He granted a request from a coalition of unions, employers and nonprofits, and the fee is blocked while their lawsuit proceeds. The Straits TimesRC “granted a request by a coalition of unions, employers and nonprofits to block the agencies from implementing Trump’s fee” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Times of IndiaN “The ruling prevents the agencies from implementing the charge while that case proceeds.” Read at The Times of India ↗
A federal judge in Boston had blocked the fee in June in a separate case brought by 20 states, and a Boston-based appeals court declined in July to pause that decision. The Straits TimesRC “The fee was temporarily blocked in June by a federal judge in Boston, ruling in a separate case brought by 20 states.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Times of IndiaN “A Boston-based federal appeals court in July declined to put that ruling on hold” Read at The Times of India ↗ The Times of India names that judge as Leo Sorokin and says he found the administration exceeded its authority by imposing the charge without congressional approval. The Times of IndiaN “US District Judge Leo Sorokin, concluded that the administration had exceeded its authority” Read at The Times of India ↗ The fee was due to expire on 21 September, but Trump extended it for another year. The Straits TimesRC “Trump, a Republican, recently extended it for another year.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Times of IndiaN “The extension would keep the policy in place through September 2027” Read at The Times of India ↗
Trump said businesses had abused the programme and replaced American workers with cheaper foreign labour. Employers had typically paid about $2,000 to $5,000 in fees. The Straits TimesRC “He said businesses had abused the H-1B programme and replaced American workers with cheaper foreign labour.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Times of IndiaN “employers typically paid around $2,000 to $5,000 in government fees” Read at The Times of India ↗ The Department of Homeland Security moved in August to adopt a permanent fee of about $103,000, which is likely to be challenged but raises different legal issues. The Straits TimesRC “The Department of Homeland Security in August moved to adopt a permanent fee of about US$103,000” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Times of IndiaN “it raises different legal questions from the lawsuits challenging Trump’s original $100,000 charge” Read at The Times of India ↗ The US Chamber of Commerce is appealing a judge's rejection of its claim that Trump lacked authority to set the fee. The White House did not immediately comment, according to Reuters. The Straits TimesRC “The chamber is appealing a judge’s decision rejecting its claims that Trump had no authority to set the fee.”“The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Times of India frames the ruling as a legal setback for Trump and uses explainer-style sections on why the fee was imposed and what happens next, with a focus on Indian applicants.
- Emphasis
- The fee's scope (new applicants from abroad, not renewals or students already in the US), its effect on Indian professionals, and the uncertainty for employers.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote the plaintiffs' lawyers or mention the judge's appointing president.
- Charged language
- “legal setback”“dramatic increase”
- For example
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“dealing another legal setback to the administration’s attempt to sharply increase the cost of the programme” — The Times of India
“The current court rulings therefore do not amount to a cancellation of the H-1B programme.” — The Times of India
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Reuters wire copy carried by the Straits Times. It leads with the ruling as the second block on the fee and gives the legal basis: skipped rule-making.
- Emphasis
- The judge's appointment by a Democratic president, the plaintiffs' reaction, the Chamber of Commerce appeal and the lack of a White House comment.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name the Boston judge or his reasoning, and does not explain which applicants the fee covers.
- Charged language
- “unprecedented”
- For example
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“Gilliam, appointed by then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat, granted a request by a coalition of unions, employers and nonprofits” — The Straits Times
“Democracy Forward, a left-leaning legal group that represents the plaintiffs, applauded the ruling in a statement.” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Judge Haywood Gilliam in Oakland blocked the $100,000 fee on 30 September for failing to follow rule-making procedures.
- A Boston judge blocked the fee in June in a case brought by 20 states, and an appeals court declined to pause that ruling in July.
- Trump extended the fee for another year, and DHS has proposed a permanent fee of about $103,000.
- The US Chamber of Commerce is appealing a ruling that rejected its challenge.
Donald Trump person
Trump imposed the fee, saying businesses abused the programme to replace American workers. The White House did not immediately comment on the ruling.
“He said businesses had abused the H-1B programme and replaced American workers with cheaper foreign labour.” — The Straits Times
“The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.” — The Straits Times
Haywood Gilliam person
Gilliam ruled that the agencies skipped required rule-making before implementing the fee, and blocked it pending the lawsuit.
“Gilliam agreed that the agencies had failed to follow those procedures before implementing the fee.” — The Times of India
East and Southeast Asia1 outlet
The Straits Times runs Reuters copy focused on the legal and political detail of the US ruling.
“A second federal judge on Sept 30 blocked an unprecedented US$100,000 (S$127,700) fee” — The Straits Times
The Straits Times
South Asia1 outlet
The Times of India stresses the consequences for Indian professionals and technology employers.
“The H-1B programme is particularly significant for Indian professionals” — The Times of India
The Times of India
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Legal setback for Trump: Second judge halts $100,000 H-1B visa fee
Neutral Explainer that presents the ruling as a setback for the administration and spells out what it means for Indian applicants and employers.
Right1 article
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The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Second judge blocks Trump’s US$100,000 fee for new H-1B worker visas
Neutral Reuters wire report that sets out the ruling, the plaintiffs' reaction, the Chamber appeal and the context.
- 1 Oct 01:55 First The Straits TimesRC Second judge blocks Trump’s US$100,000 fee for new H-1B worker visas via Reuters
- 1 Oct 03:36 +1h 41m The Times of IndiaN Legal setback for Trump: Second judge halts $100,000 H-1B visa fee
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.