The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Trump administration, challenging the steep new fees in the H-1B visa program and joining a broader legal campaign against changes that affect major U.S. tech companies. The chamber’s action places it among the few large business groups to take the Trump administration to court over policies they say harm employers.
Previously, a healthcare-staffing company and labor unions filed a lawsuit in California opposing the new $100,000 H-1B visa application fee. Other lawsuits targeting the administration’s global tariffs came from small businesses such as a wine importer and an educational toy company, rather than major corporations.
Chamber of Commerce sues over Trump’s visa fee
In its complaint, the Chamber of Commerce asked the court to block the H-1B program restrictions, arguing that the policy “is not only misguided policy; it is plainly unlawful,” and that “the President has significant authority over the entry of noncitizens into the United States, but that authority is bounded by statute and cannot directly contradict laws passed by Congress.” The complaint added, “The Proclamation does precisely that: It blatantly contravenes the fees Congress has set for the H-1B program and countermands Congress’s judgment.”
The late-night implementation of the new restrictions by the Trump administration caused a great deal of confusion. Before realizing that the changes only applied to new visa applications and not renewals for current H-1B holders, companies hurried to bring workers back to the United States.
Debates and divides
Business and political circles have long debated and divided over the H-1B visa program. Critics contend that foreign workers drive down wages and displace Americans, while tech executives, such as Elon Musk, have hailed it as a crucial tool for luring top talent from around the world.
Weeks of internal deliberation and planning preceded the chamber’s lawsuit. According to people familiar with the situation, chamber officials started looking into possible legal responses after President Trump announced the new visa fees. The chamber stated in its lawsuit announcement that it opposed the new visa fees but supported a number of Trump administration economic policies. “The new $100,000 visa fee will make it cost-prohibitive for U.S. employers, especially start-ups and small and midsize businesses, to utilize the H-1B program, which was created by Congress expressly to ensure that American businesses of all sizes can access the global talent they need to grow their operations here in the U.S.,” said Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the chamber.
“President Trump has embarked on an ambitious agenda of securing permanent pro-growth tax reforms, unleashing American energy, and unraveling the overregulation that has stifled growth,” Bradley said. “The Chamber and our members have actively backed these proposals to attract more investment in America.”
Featured Image Credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich; Pexels: Thank you!
