In a 56-page ruling, District Judge Beryl Howell noted that the president has "broad powers" allowing him to take measures in response to threats to national and economic security. The fee was announced in September, and the business community faced serious difficulties due to a lack of time to prepare for the changes.
This innovation has become part of the aggressive immigration policy pursued by Trump after his return to the White House. While the previous focus was on combating illegal immigration, attention is now also directed towards H-1B visas, which play a crucial role in the country's technology sector.
The president claims that the H-1B program allows employers to replace American specialists with foreign workers who are willing to work for lower wages. Each year, 85,000 such visas are issued through a lottery system, and about 75% of them go to citizens of India.
Criticism of the fee's introduction has come from representatives of the technology industry, including Elon Musk, who was previously an ally of Trump. They emphasize that there is a severe shortage of skilled labor in the American market.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Universities, representing 69 research universities, have filed a lawsuit against the new fee. It is worth noting that the Chamber of Commerce traditionally supports Republicans, having spent over $76 million on lobbying and about $6 million on supporting Republican candidates in 2024.
Additionally, at least two other lawsuits related to the $100,000 fee on the H-1B visa are currently ongoing.
Amid these events, in the lead-up to Christmas, the White House released an animation in which President Trump holds a "naughty list" of migrants.
“Santa's naughty list — the worst of the worst, a lo-fi version. No coal. Just deportation,” the White House wrote on social media platform X, attaching a link to a broadcast lasting over nine hours.
[media=https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2003586519374717151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
In the AI-generated video, Trump is depicted with a "system" in front of a Christmas tree and fireplace.
In some countries that celebrate Catholic Christmas, there is a belief that Santa brings coal as a gift to naughty children.
