Democratic Rep Suhas Subramanyam has blasted US President Donald Trump’s newly announced $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, terming it “economic sabotage.”

Taking to the social media platform X, Subramanyam wrote, “@POTUS latest move is a direct attack on our economy: a $100,000 fee on all H-1B visas, effective tomorrow. Companies are warning visa holders not to leave the US. Those outside the country have 24 hours to return or risk being denied. This isn’t immigration policy. This is economic sabotage.”

.@POTUS latest move is a direct attack on our economy: an $100,000 fee on all H-1B visas, effective tomorrow. Companies are warning visa holders not leave the U.S. Those outside the country have 24 hours to return or risk being denied. This isn’t immigration policy. This is pic.twitter.com/6JBiwCI63f— Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) (@RepSuhas) September 20, 2025

In a staggering move, Trump signed a proclamation hiking H-1B visa fees to $100,000/year and restricting the entry of H-1B visa holders.

While announcing the H-1B visa hike, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said companies will now be required to pay $100,000 annually for each visa. “A hundred thousand dollars a year for H-1B visas, and all the big companies are on board. We’ve spoken to them,” Lutnick said.

He added that the policy aims to prioritise US graduates. “If you’re going to train somebody, train one of the recent graduates from one of our great universities. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs.”

The proclamation refers to non-migrant workers as “aliens.” It also mentions that if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that a certain individual, company or entire industry does not pose a threat to US security or welfare, and is in the national interest, then they can be exempted from the rule.

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