Court Blocks Trump H-1B Visa Fee, Saving Israeli Tech

A federal judge just delivered a crucial victory for Israeli innovation and the enduring US-Israel alliance. On Monday, US District Judge Leo Sorokin struck down a staggering $100,000 fee that President Donald Trump imposed on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, concluding that the hefty charge constituted an unlawful tax Congress never authorized.

For the Start-Up Nation, this ruling is far more than a legal technicality. It is a vital shield for our tech pioneers. Since the days of Bezalel, whom the Torah describes as being filled with divine wisdom and skill to construct the Tabernacle, the Jewish people have been builders and innovators. Today, that ancient spirit lives on in Israel's booming tech sector, which relies on global mobility to share its genius with the world, especially the United States.

Unlawful Tax or Presidential Authority?

The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of 20 Democratic state attorneys general, challenged a fee Trump announced in September. The administration argued the fee was a lawful monetary penalty under federal immigration law, claiming the president had the power to restrict entry when he deems it detrimental to US interests. Trump insisted the H-1B program had been deliberately exploited to replace American workers with lower-paid labor.

But Israeli talent does not replace American workers. It empowers them. Israeli tech pioneers create jobs, drive economic growth, and develop the defense technologies that keep the West safe from threats like Iran and its terror proxies. Judge Sorokin, appointed by former President Barack Obama, saw through the administration's argument.