Civil rights groups say raised $100,000 fee has sparked chaos and uncertainty; puts economy and workforce at risk.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2025
CONTACT:
Aleisha Flores (Washington, D.C.) (771) 233-8202 aflores@advancingjustice-aajc.org
Liana Liang (California) (213) 977‑7500 x237 lliang@ajsocal.org
James Woo (Atlanta) media@advancingjustice-atlanta.org
Grace Pai (Chicago) gpai@advancingjustice-chicago.org
LOS ANGELES, CA – On Friday, President Trump signed a proclamation that purported to restrict the entry of new H-1B visa holders unless the visa holder or their corporate sponsor pays a one-time fee of $100,000 (previously $2,000-5,000), effective as of Sunday.
H-1B visa holders who were outside the U.S. were left stranded and panicked by the proclamation over the weekend. Confusion over the proclamation’s details, exacerbated by the Trump Administration’s contradictory and inaccurate statements notwithstanding the importance of this policy shift, continued until the Trump Administration belatedly noted that this would only take effect for new applicants.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a network of four independent Asian American civil rights organizations, issues the following statement:
“This proclamation is an attack on the H-1B visa program, and shows that President Trump and his administration do not truly care about the economy, U.S.-born workers, and immigrant workers. The fixation on the program, which studies have found generally is good for the economy and job creation (including for U.S.-born workers), is based on the false idea that immigrant workers displace American workers. H-1B visa holders work in tech, healthcare, and in other key industries. These immigrants and their families, like other immigrants in the U.S., make our communities stronger in ways that strengthen our economy, innovation, and our global leadership.
“The H-1B visa program is a relatively small program, with 65,000 visas available each year for those with bachelor’s degrees or equivalent – the vast majority of which are conferred to individuals from Asian countries. On top of these, 20,000 additional visas are available for professionals who graduate with a master’s degree or doctorate from a U.S. university. The Trump Administration has shared misleading information about the program by pointing to the growth in immigrant participation in the STEM industry while deliberately ignoring the fact that the majority of the individuals he falsely labeled as ‘foreign workers’ are in fact naturalized citizens. Ultimately, these changes reflect an administration that is focused on exclusion at the expense of the economy, national security, and the lives of immigrant and U.S.-born workers.
As usual, this administration seeks to mislead and confuse the public and pit immigrant workers and U.S.-born workers against each other. Imposing fees does not address some of the real issues with temporary visa programs which can lead to abuse and even trafficking of immigrant workers. Those abuses hurt all workers and should be addressed by Congress and the President. But any attempt to address these issues should include assistance not just for U.S.-born workers, but also the immigrant workers.
We urge the Trump Administration to focus on real solutions for immigrants, U.S. workers, and our communities, instead of creating confusion and trying to change the immigration system into a ‘pay-to-play’ mess. Despite the harsh language of the proclamation, Section 1(c) makes it clear that any fee can be waived at the discretion of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. What that suggests is that this proclamation is a shakedown, not an honest effort to tackle the problems facing temporary visa programs.
The chaos created by this announcement is not unusual for this administration. Additionally, the Trump Administration’s focus on policies that attack immigrants and their families is not new. The administration must prioritize policies that instead reflect the reality of a beautiful and diverse America. Our immigrant communities make the U.S. stronger, and we urge President Trump to reconsider this and the other many attacks on our communities.”
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About Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of four leading Asian American civil rights organizations committed to advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and building a more just society for all.