'Further damage the US-India relationship': Congresswoman slams Trump’s $100k H-1B visa fee

US President Donald Trump’s recently announced $100,000 fee for H-1B visas has sparked sharp criticism from Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who warned the policy will “decimate US competitiveness, hurt American businesses, and further damage the US-India relationship.”

Speaking on Monday, the California Democrat accused the president of targeting immigrants and global talent at the expense of the American economy. “American workers are suffering from Trump’s rising unemployment and inflation,” she said. “How about fixing that instead of more harmful and xenophobic policies?”

Kamlager-Dove emphasized that the measure will not only affect foreign professionals but also American companies dependent on their expertise. “This is a self-inflicted wound that undermines US innovation and economic leadership,” she said.
The criticism comes after Trump signed a proclamation on Friday that restricts the entry of H-1B visa holders and sharply increases the application fee to $100,000, a move expected to impact Indian professionals significantly.

In a related update, the White House indicated on Monday that doctors may be exempt from the new high-skilled H-1B visa fee, following warnings from major medical associations about potential risks to rural healthcare, where there is already a shortage of providers, according to a Bloomberg report.