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 by imposing a tax-like payment without Congressional delegation. The decision came in a Boston case brought by 20 Democratic-led states. U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin wrote that the policy imposes a “tax” on H-1B petitions, violating the Administrative Procedure Act. The ruling vacates the fee, which the administration described as intended to prevent foreign workers from taking American jobs. H-1B visas are critical for higher education recruitment, particularly for specialized faculty and researchers. Public universities and major research institutions rely on H-1B hiring, and states argued the fee would stymie education staffing, academic research, and medical workforce needs. For institutions and employers, the decision shifts near-term planning uncertainty around international hiring costs while setting up potential further appellate review and continued challenges to immigration fee policies.