DHS asks appeals court to revive $100,000 H-1B visa fee
DHS Urges Appeals Court to Reinstate Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Fee, Calling It a Legitimate Visa Surcharge
DHS asks appeals court to keep Trump-era $100,000 H-1B application fee alive
Latest News
2026 H-1B season ends with wage-weighted lottery, lower demand and new costs
USCIS closed the FY 2027 H-1B filing window with a wage-weighted lottery, a court-contested US$100k consular fee and a 72 % collapse in registration volume since 2024. High-salary roles gained an edge while low-wage petitions suffered, forcing employers to rethink compensation, workforce location and backup visa options.
DHS Pilot Lets Local Police Use ICE Facial-Recognition App for Street Immigration Checks
A DHS privacy filing shows ICE has given more than 1,000 local police departments access to a new facial-recognition phone app that matches street-level photos against 250 million federal immigration and travel records. Civil-liberties groups warn of dragnet surveillance and misidentification, while employers should prepare for a rise in on-the-spot immigration checks affecting mobile staff.
Everything Changed for the H-1B in 2026: Wage-Weighted Lottery, $100k Fee, and Plunging Registrations
A deep-dive report released 19 June lays out three shifts that re-defined the 2026 H-1B season: the new wage-weighted lottery, a contested $100,000 supplemental fee for consular cases, and a 72 percent drop in registrations since 2024. The changes favor high-salary, U.S.-based candidates and force employers to rethink global-talent pipelines and budgets.
Court-ordered end to USCIS “travel-ban” adjudication holds still not speeding cases
A 5 June court ruling overturned four USCIS policies that had put thousands of cases from travel-ban countries on indefinite hold, but a 19 June practice alert warns that filings are still sitting untouched. Employers should use the ruling—and USCIS’s own acknowledgment—to press for action, or consider litigation if adjudications do not restart soon.
State Department moves to revoke 600 visitor visas tied to ‘birth-tourism’ rings
The State Department has started cancelling more than 600 B-1/B-2 visas after uncovering commercial networks that arranged for foreign nationals to give birth in the U.S. The crackdown highlights the administration’s intent to police visitor-visa fraud and could complicate future applications for anyone associated with "birth-tourism" trips.
Federal Judge Orders ICE to Free Wisconsin Mosque Leader, Citing First-Amendment Retaliation
A federal judge in Indiana ordered ICE to release Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque, finding that his three-month detention likely violated the First Amendment because it was retaliation for pro-Palestinian speech. The decision creates a free-speech precedent that foreign employees may invoke against retaliatory immigration detention and underscores the need for employers to have rapid-response plans.
Justice Department plans 250 denaturalization cases by October, official says
CNN obtained a memo showing the Justice Department intends to file about 250 denaturalization lawsuits by 30 September, the biggest such push in modern times. Employers must prepare for the possibility that naturalized workers could lose citizenship and therefore work authorization, triggering I-9 and export-control compliance issues.
USCIS Confirms End of ‘Travel-Ban Benefit Holds’ After Court Vacatur—but Employers Still Wait
A Duane Morris client alert explains that USCIS has formally scrapped four policies that froze immigration benefits for nationals of “travel-ban” countries after a federal court vacated them on 5 June. Although the agency says it is complying, employers have yet to see stalled H-1B, I-485, and EAD cases move, prompting calls for congressional inquiries and possible mandamus actions.
Federal court vacates USCIS ‘global asylum hold’ policies, but backlogs linger
A Rhode Island district-court order that voided USCIS policies pausing benefits for ‘travel-ban’ nationals is now effective, but stakeholders report no surge in adjudications. Companies should press USCIS for action or consider litigation to break persistent backlogs.
Everything that changed in the 2026 H-1B season—wage-weighted lottery, $100k fee and shrinking demand
A 19 June deep dive summarises the 2026 H-1B overhaul: the lottery is now wage-weighted, a US $100k consular fee applies to many overseas applicants, and total registrations have fallen to a ten-year low. Mobility managers must adjust wage offers, budgets and contingency plans before the next filing season.
House Author of Haiti TPS Bill Cheers Senate Companion, Keeping 300,000 People’s Status Alive
Rep. Laura Gillen applauded the filing of a Senate companion to her House-passed bill extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals to 2030. The move keeps renewal hopes alive for more than 300,000 Haitians whose work authorization expires in early 2026, giving employers and mobility managers another potential pathway to retain critical workers.
TSA launches ‘ConfirmID’ paid screening for passengers without Real ID
TSA introduced ‘ConfirmID,’ a US$45 identity-verification process for domestic passengers who arrive at security without Real ID-compliant documents. The paid option offers a last-minute workaround but adds cost and potential delays, prompting companies to reinforce ID-compliance reminders for travellers.
DHS clarifies how dairy farms can qualify for H-2A workers
DHS issued a memo confirming that dairy farms can qualify for H-2A visas if they document seasonal labor peaks, providing long-sought clarity for an industry that has battled chronic worker shortages. Employers should prepare detailed seasonality evidence and budget for housing obligations.
Senators unveil ‘Land of the Free Act’ to repeal Cold-War-era deportation clause
On 19 June, three Democratic senators filed legislation to eliminate INA § 237(a)(4)(C), a 1950s foreign-policy provision recently used to detain Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi. Repeal would shield international students and workers from deportation based on political speech, offering multinational employers and universities greater legal certainty.
Juneteenth shutdowns to delay passport, visa and ACH processing through Monday
Because Juneteenth is observed on Friday, 19 June, federal offices, USCIS service centers and U.S. consulates are closed. FedACH and Fedwire suspend transactions until 21 June, postponing payroll, remittances and some international transfers. Mobility managers should reschedule visa appointments and adjust travel and payment timelines.
Visa Waiver reminder: ESTA eligibility list highlighted as summer travel peaks
An international press roundup emphasised ESTA prerequisites for citizens of 23 visa-waiver countries as U.S. summer travel surges. Corporations should double-check that last-minute visitors meet passport-validity and travel-history requirements to avoid boarding denials.
Justice Department sues Virginia over new anti-ICE laws on masks and 287(g) pacts
DOJ on 19 June sued Virginia to overturn forthcoming laws that would criminalise masked officers and bar local 287(g) agreements with ICE. The agency says the measures jeopardise officer safety and conflict with federal supremacy in immigration enforcement. A quick injunction could avert enforcement chaos at Virginia worksites and jails.
Federal judge’s pause puts contested US$100,000 H-1B fee back in play—at least for now
On June 18 legal analysts reported that a district-court stay has revived the Trump-era US$100,000 H-1B petition fee pending appeal. Employers must once again budget for the surcharge until the First Circuit rules, injecting fresh uncertainty into U.S. talent-mobility planning.
Court Stay Puts $100,000 H-1B Filing Fee Back in Play, Creating New Budget Headaches for U.S. Employers
A U.S. district-court stay issued June 18 reinstated the administration’s $100,000 supplemental fee on new H-1B petitions pending appeal, forcing employers to scramble for additional funds and legal strategy. The reinstatement may be short-lived, but for now USCIS will cash the six-figure checks, adding cost and uncertainty to FY 2027 filings.
U.S. Imposes Targeted Visa Bans on Ethiopian Hard-Liners
Washington has barred visas for Ethiopian actors accused of undermining the fragile Tigray peace deal, extending bans to their immediate families. The move raises compliance and travel-planning challenges for firms with ties to northern Ethiopia and signals that broader sanctions could follow if clashes resume.
DHS Scraps Controversial ‘Mega-Warehouse’ Detention Network
Bloomberg Law confirmed DHS has quietly killed a plan to convert empty warehouses into giant ICE detention centers. The retreat preserves the status quo of smaller, contract-run jails and spares nearby communities disruptive construction—but it also leaves corporate immigration teams navigating an aging, decentralized detention system.
Fifteen Arrested in Massachusetts for $1.4 Million Benefit-and-Visa Fraud Scheme
Federal prosecutors charged 15 people in Massachusetts with passport fraud, identity theft, and an elaborate plot to stage a fake armed robbery to obtain a U-visa. The $1.4 million scheme shows how immigration fraud can intertwine with public-benefit abuse and underscores heightened enforcement against document fraud that can create liability for employers.
Coast Guard Stops Boat Carrying 25 Chinese Migrants Off Florida
A U.S. Coast Guard crew halted a skiff near Key Biscayne, detaining 25 Chinese nationals in the latest spike of maritime migration attempts. The high-profile interdiction signals tougher enforcement along Florida’s coast and could translate into longer screening times for legitimate business travelers arriving by sea or air.
ICE Drops Michigan Warehouse Detention Center After State Lawsuit
Faced with a lawsuit from Michigan’s attorney general and local officials, ICE has cancelled plans to turn a Romulus warehouse into a detention center. The reversal underscores the power of environmental and zoning challenges to derail federal detention projects and shifts pressure to already crowded jails in neighboring states.
U.S. lifts naval blockade of Iran, lowering security threat level in Strait of Hormuz
Central Command said June 18 it has ended the U.S. naval blockade of Iran, easing insurance costs and transit times in the vital Strait of Hormuz. While good news for corporate logistics and employee relocations, shippers are advised to remain alert to mines and residual naval activity.
Leaked Documents Reveal ICE Eyes 1,300-Bed Expansion at Proposed Marana, Arizona Facility
Documents posted by DHS show a proposed ICE detention center in Marana, Arizona could incarcerate more than 1,300 people—nearly double earlier estimates. The June 18 disclosure has prompted fresh local backlash and scrutiny of ICE’s truncated public-comment period.
‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Emptied Ahead of Hurricane Season
DHS emptied Florida’s controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention camp, moving detainees to other states as hurricane season starts. While migrants avoid storm dangers, the reshuffle strains capacity elsewhere and may prompt a broader rethink of temporary tent facilities.
Arizona U.S. Attorney Files 323 Immigration Cases in One Week
Arizona prosecutors filed 323 immigration cases in a single week, underscoring hard-line enforcement under Operation Take Back America. The aggressive docket heightens legal risks for migrants and could divert court resources from routine visa matters.
CBP Seizes 16,000 Counterfeit World Cup 2026 Jerseys in Miami as Intellectual-Property Crackdown Intensifies
CBP officers in Miami seized more than 16,000 counterfeit Nike World Cup 2026 jerseys linked to a Chinese shipper, part of a broader enforcement surge protecting IP rights ahead of next year’s tournament and warning importers to tighten compliance.
Immigration Round-Up: $100k H-1B Fee Temporarily Reinstated; State Dept Launches $750 Interview-Expedite Pilot
A June 18 Crown World Mobility bulletin confirms that the controversial $100,000 H-1B surcharge remains in force pending appeal, and details a new State Department pilot letting B-1/B-2 applicants buy a $750 fast-track interview slot. Employers face higher, less predictable immigration costs and should update budgets and travel timelines accordingly.
U.S. Imposes Visa Bans on Tigray Hardliners, Signaling Tougher Stance on Ethiopia Peace Process
The State Department issued visa bans on June 18 targeting TPLF hardliners accused of blocking peace in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. U.S. employers with Ethiopian ties must vet travelers more carefully as Washington wields immigration policy to pressure conflict actors.
CBP Orders $270 Million Worth of Mobile X-Ray Units From Leidos
CBP has inked a $270 million deal with Leidos for mobile X-ray scanners able to inspect entire tractor-trailers in seconds. The rollout will tighten cargo security but may also reshape commercial-border wait-time dynamics, rewarding shippers with robust compliance records.
National Immigration Forum Bulletin Flags Refugee Ceiling Boost and New Oversight Bills
A June 18 bulletin from the National Immigration Forum notes the refugee ceiling’s jump to 17,500 and new Congressional proposals to let governors inspect ICE facilities—changes that could affect private refugee sponsorship and detention-service vendors.
CPSC to relocate headquarters to Washington’s GAO Building, citing federal space-consolidation push
On June 18 the CPSC announced it will shift its HQ from Bethesda to Washington’s GAO Building by October 2026, part of a federal space-consolidation initiative. Mobility providers see new relocation business, while contractors must prepare for tighter downtown security protocols.
Biomanufacturing firm Resilience shifts headquarters from San Diego to Ohio, reinforcing Midwest life-sciences corridor
On June 18, National Resilience said it will move its headquarters to Blue Ash, Ohio, investing US$100 million and creating hundreds of jobs. The relocation exemplifies the Midwest’s rise as a life-sciences hub and will trigger substantial corporate-mobility activity for the firm’s San Diego workforce.