Trump is upping the price of Big Tech’s favorite visa

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday that it will impose a fee exceeding $103,000 on new H‑1B visas, a move that will significantly raise the cost of hiring foreign tech talent. In the same week, the State Department revealed plans to revoke the visas of up to 200,000 asylum seekers, a measure that would constitute the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press. These actions reflect a broader strategy by the Trump administration to meet its promised deportation targets by targeting legal immigrants rather than only focusing on undocumented individuals.

The H‑1B fee hike comes amid growing pressure on employers to reduce reliance on foreign workers, while the proposed revocation of asylum visas signals a tightening of the U.S. asylum system. Officials say the revocations will affect individuals who have already received protection status, effectively stripping them of their legal right to remain in the country. The administration’s approach has drawn criticism from immigration advocates who argue that it undermines the legal protections afforded to asylum seekers and could lead to a surge in unlawful border crossings.

These developments illustrate a shift in U.S. immigration policy that prioritizes enforcement over protection. By targeting legal immigrants, the administration aims to meet its deportation quotas, but the broader implications for the U.S. workforce and international reputation remain uncertain.