A coalition of US states has moved to block President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, escalating a legal fight over one of the administration’s most controversial immigration measures. California attorney general Rob Bonta announced that he and 19 other states have filed a lawsuit arguing the dramatic fee increase exceeds presidential authority and violates federal law governing the skilled worker visa programme.

The lawsuit challenges a presidential proclamation issued in September that bars new H-1B visa recipients from entering the United States unless their employer pays the six figure charge. States backing the case contend that Congress has clearly limited visa fees to the administrative cost of processing applications, and that the new charge represents an unlawful attempt to raise revenue without legislative approval. All of the participating states are led by Democratic attorneys general.

H-1B visas are a key channel for US employers to recruit highly skilled foreign workers in specialised fields, including technology, healthcare, education and research. Employers currently pay between $2,000 and $5,000 in combined fees for each petition. The states argue that raising the cost to $100,000 would significantly restrict access to the programme and disrupt labour markets, particularly in sectors already facing shortages.

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