A federal judge on Monday vacated the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, ruling the administration exceeded its authority. The decision followed a lawsuit by Democratic-led states arguing the fee was a tax requiring Congressional approval. The ruling directly affects universities and research employers that rely on H-1B visas to recruit foreign faculty and researchers. Federal data cited in coverage indicates thousands of college and university employees were approved on H-1B visas in 2025, with large research institutions accounting for a disproportionate share. Homeland Security officials said they disagree with the ruling and characterized it as judicial activism, while plaintiffs celebrated it as stopping an effort to “hawk the American Dream.” For higher education, the immediate effect is relief from a policy that would have priced out smaller employers and potentially slowed hiring cycles for international scholars.