A federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, ruling the executive branch exceeded its authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The decision overturned an earlier ruling that had upheld the fee, setting up continued legal uncertainty across jurisdictions. In the Boston case, Judge Leo Sorokin found the policy imposed a tax on H-1B petitions without the necessary congressional delegation. The fee had been justified as a way to reduce foreign worker inflows, and several lawsuits—filed by states and other groups—argued the fee would disrupt recruitment for education and healthcare roles. The ruling lands as colleges, universities, and research institutions—major H-1B employers—face ongoing staffing constraints and competition for specialized faculty and researchers. States argued the fee would stymie academic research and reduce the ability to hire teachers and medical workers, while the administration said it would appeal and disputes continue.