Article Summary

The White House defended the Trump administration's policy instituting a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, vowing to fight lawsuits filed by groups like the US Chamber of Commerce. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the H-1B system was "spammed with fraud" and argued the new fee was a lawful and necessary step to reform the program. Critics, including tech executives, contend the fee would make the program cost-prohibitive for employers and hinder the US's ability to attract top talent.

TNP AI: Key Insights

The proposed $100,000 H-1B fee represents an unprecedented cost increase, potentially making the program inaccessible for many small and medium-sized businesses, including startups that rely on skilled foreign talent. This move would dramatically alter the economic calculus for employers considering H-1B sponsorship, likely reducing demand and limiting the diversity of companies able to participate.

Historically, H-1B fees have been tied to specific legislative mandates (e.g., ACWIA fees, fraud prevention fees) and were in the range of a few thousand dollars, not six figures. This executive order introduces a direct financial barrier framed as a deterrent to alleged fraud, shifting the policy from regulation to significant cost imposition. The administration's defense highlights a continued tension between perceived protection of American jobs and the tech industry's need for global talent.