Salem, Oregon — Oregon has joined a coalition of Democratic-led states in challenging a new Trump administration policy that dramatically raises the cost of hiring skilled foreign workers, escalating a broader legal fight over executive authority and immigration policy.
Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced that Oregon and 18 other states filed suit in federal court in Massachusetts, arguing that the administration’s newly imposed $100,000 fee for certain H-1B visa applications far exceeds what Congress authorized. The lawsuit contends the fee bypasses required federal rulemaking procedures and contradicts the intent of lawmakers who created the program to help employers fill specialized positions.
H-1B visas are commonly used by U.S. employers to recruit highly educated workers in fields such as medicine, engineering, technology, and academic research. Current statutory and regulatory fees typically range from under $1,000 to several thousand dollars. Oregon officials argue the new fee is not tied to actual processing costs and functions instead as a deterrent to legal immigration pathways.
The state says public universities would be particularly affected. Oregon State University and the University of Oregon collectively employ hundreds of H-1B visa holders in faculty, research, and technical roles. Rayfield warned that the policy could undermine Oregon’s competitiveness in higher education and innovation by making it financially impractical to recruit global talent.
The Trump administration has defended the policy by claiming the H-1B program has been abused to suppress wages and displace U.S.-born workers. The lawsuit seeks to block implementation of the fee while the courts review its legality.
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