Federal judge blocks H1B visa $100K fee

A federal judge blocked President Trump's $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas, ruling it violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution. The decision provides relief for Alaska schools, which rely heavily on H-1B visa holders to fill teaching positions, particularly in rural districts where international teachers comprise 50-80% of staff. Alaska's congressional delegation and state legislature had urged the government to exempt educators from the fee, citing the financial burden on school districts already investing $6,000-$12,000 per teacher in recruitment and sponsorship.