President Donald Trump announced that his administration will impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The new fee went into effect as of September 21, 2025, and will greatly impact employers’ ability to secure the highly educated foreign workers who come to the United States on the H-1B visa.
Hispanic Heritage Month is Still a Time for Celebration, Even in the Midst of Fear
We are a culture of many languages. We carry histories that stretch across continents and generations. We are doctors, students, and teachers. We are neighbors, coworkers, and friends. We are valuable. We are worthy. And we should take pride in our community. Hispanic heritage is not something to be hidden or diminished. It is joy, and it must be celebrated.
Within 24 hours of issuing the initial H-1B proclamation and the ensuing panic, the Trump administration claimed that the fee was intended to apply prospectively. The State Department and components of the Department of Homeland Security issued various interpretations of what the proclamation means.
On Thursday, four residents of Washington DC and Maryland-based immigrant rights organization CASA filed a class action lawsuit, challenging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s immigration arrests in the District. The lawsuit alleges that ICE violated immigration law by arresting people without warrants or probable cause, based largely on perceived ethnicity. The issue is not isolated to DC, however. Indiscriminate immigration enforcement based on race will likely grow with the recent Supreme Court ruling in Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem. The decision cleared the way for racial profiling during immigration raids and sweeps. Read more: How the Supreme Court's Latest Decision Clears the Way for Racial Profiling During Immigration Raids
Across the Nation
Research shows that H-1B workers complement U.S. workers, fill employment gaps in many STEM occupations, and expand job opportunities for all.
This updated fact sheet from the American Immigration Council provides an overview of the H-1B visa category and petition process, addresses some of the myths perpetuated about the H-1B visa category, and highlights the key contributions H-1B workers make to the U.S. economy. Read more: The H-1B Visa Program and Its Impact on the U.S. Economy
Gateways for Growth
We’re thrilled to announce the deadline to apply for the Gateways for Growth Challenge (G4G) has been extended to Friday, October 10 at 5pm local time. G4G Round IV is a year-long opportunity to strengthen your community’s immigrant inclusion efforts with support from Welcoming America and the American Immigration Council.
“This is going to make it harder for people to come here full stop. It is going to make it harder for American companies to compete for talent in what is very much a global race for talent. It is going to lead to larger companies moving operations abroad.”
