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Global Nurse Force v. Trump
The federal lawsuit challenging the September 2025 presidential proclamation that imposed a $100,000 supplemental fee on new H-1B visa petitions — a fee that threatens to choke off the lawful nurse-recruitment pipeline US hospitals depend on.
Why we filed
When the policy threatens patients, someone has to stand up.
189,000+ RN openings every year
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 189,000+ registered nurse openings annually through 2034. A $100,000 fee per H-1B petition makes lawful international recruitment economically impossible for most non-profit hospitals.
Healthcare cannot pay $100,000 per nurse
Tech firms can absorb the fee. Rural and non-profit hospitals operating on 1–3% margins cannot. The result is unit closures, longer shifts for existing nurses, burnout, and reduced patient safety.
The President is not above the APA
Our complaint argues the proclamation is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act, exceeds statutory authority, and conflicts with Congress's framework for immigration fees that are tied to administering programs — not raising revenue.
The case so far
Timeline of Global Nurse Force v. Trump
Sep 30, 2026
Second federal court blocks $100,000 H-1B fee
A California federal judge blocks the $100,000 H-1B fee, ruling that federal agencies failed to follow required rulemaking procedures before implementing it. (Reuters)
Jun 8, 2026
Federal judge strikes down $100,000 H-1B fee
A Massachusetts federal judge rules the $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas unlawful, finding that the administration exceeded its authority by imposing a tax without congressional authorization. (Reuters)
Feb 26, 2026
Government discloses fee collection
Court filings reveal only approximately 70 employers had paid the $100,000 fee since its imposition — used by plaintiffs as evidence the fee has effectively halted lawful H-1B-based hiring rather than raised revenue.
Dec 18, 2025
Preliminary injunction motion
Plaintiffs in Global Nurse Force v. Trump file a motion for preliminary injunction (58-page brief) seeking emergency court action to halt enforcement of the fee.
Dec 12, 2025
20-state coalition files third lawsuit
Twenty US states file a third lawsuit, citing risks to public services. The three cases proceed on parallel timelines.
Oct 16, 2025
US Chamber files second lawsuit
The US Chamber of Commerce files a parallel lawsuit in DC challenging the same proclamation. Global Nurse Force's case remains the lead matter on the merits.
Oct 3, 2025
Lawsuit filed
Global Nurse Force, joined by Global Village Academy Collaborative, the Society of the Divine Word, the Fathers of St. Charles, the Church on the Hill, and educator and labor unions, files Global Nurse Force v. Trump (4:25-cv-08454) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Sep 19, 2025
Presidential proclamation
Trump administration issues proclamation imposing a $100,000 supplemental fee on new H-1B visa petitions, effective immediately.
As covered by
Major press coverage
Oct 6, 2026
Trump's $100,000 H-1B fee hits legal hurdle
TradingView (via Moody's) on the court rulings against the $100,000 H-1B fee, including the California case brought by a coalition led by Global Nurse Force.
Oct 1, 2026
Judge Strikes Down Latest Version Of $100,000 H-1B Immigration Fee
Forbes (Stuart Anderson) on the second federal ruling blocking the $100,000 H-1B fee, the policy challenged in Global Nurse Force v. Trump.
Oct 1, 2026
Second judge blocks Trump's $100,000 fee for new H-1B worker visas
Reuters on a California federal judge blocking the $100,000 H-1B fee for failing to follow required rulemaking procedures.
Oct 1, 2026
US court strikes down Trump's 'unlawful' $100,000 fee for H-1B visa: what it means for Indians
Hindustan Times on the court ruling against the $100,000 H-1B fee and what it means for Indian professionals.
Oct 1, 2026
Second Federal Court Blocks Trump-Vance Administration's Unlawful Innovation Ban
Press release from Democracy Forward, counsel in Global Nurse Force v. Trump, on the second federal court blocking the $100,000 H-1B fee.
Sep 30, 2026
Second Federal Judge Blocks Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Law Commentary on the second federal judge blocking the $100,000 H-1B fee, in the lawsuit whose plaintiffs include Global Nurse Force.
Mar 18, 2026
Trump Immigration Restrictions Spur New Look At H-1B
Forbes analysis (Stuart Anderson) referencing the complaint filed in Global Nurse Force v. Trump on the methodology behind compensation arguments in H-1B litigation.
Mar 16, 2026
$100,000 fee for H-1B visas brings in $8.5M as of mid-February
SIA coverage of court filing data in Global Nurse Force v. Trump showing only modest fee collection and a drop in non-cap H-1B visa volume.
Mar 15, 2026
The $100,000 fee for H-1Bs is causing all sorts of problems
The Verge's six-months-later analysis: Global Nurse Force is one of three federal court challengers to the H-1B fee hike that has rippled across tech and healthcare hiring.
Mar 13, 2026
H-1B Visa Update: Trump's New Plan Is Losing US Money
Newsweek on USCIS data showing a major application drop after the $100K fee; the lawsuit's plaintiffs include Global Nurse Force, the AAUP, and the Aerospace and Defense industry coalitions.
Mar 5, 2026
Trump Cannot Create New Taxes and Fees, Claims H-1B Lawsuit
ACM coverage of unions representing educators and nurses (including Global Nurse Force) suing the Trump administration over the $100,000 H-1B fee.
Mar 3, 2026
No Business Immigration Lawsuits Filed Against DHS H-1B Rule
Forbes (Stuart Anderson) on how Global Nurse Force v. Trump plaintiffs hope to succeed citing fee-harm declarations and the recent Supreme Court tariff ruling.
For nurses
What this means for your pathway to the USA
EB-3 green card is unaffected
The EB-3 Schedule A pathway — the fast-track route for internationally educated nurses to US permanent residency — has nothing to do with the H-1B fee and continues as normal.
Read the EB-3 guideTN visa for Canadian nurses is unaffected
The TN visa, available to Canadian RNs under USMCA, is a separate non-immigrant visa category. The fee challenged in this lawsuit does not apply.
Read the TN visa guideH-1B sponsorship paused for most
Until the lawsuit resolves, most US hospitals have paused new H-1B nurse sponsorships. We recommend EB-3 direct sponsorship or TN visa pathways as immediate alternatives.
Browse USA nursing jobsFrequently asked
About the lawsuit
- What is Global Nurse Force v. Trump?
- Global Nurse Force v. Trump (Case No. 4:25-cv-08454, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California) is a federal lawsuit filed on October 3, 2025 challenging the September 19, 2025 presidential proclamation that imposed a $100,000 supplemental fee on new H-1B visa petitions. Global Nurse Force is the lead plaintiff on behalf of a coalition of healthcare staffing organizations, unions, educators, and religious institutions.
- Why did Global Nurse Force file this lawsuit?
- The $100,000 supplemental fee makes H-1B sponsorship economically unworkable for most US healthcare employers, particularly non-profit hospitals and rural facilities operating on thin margins. With the US facing a projected shortage of 189,000+ registered nurses every year through 2034, the fee threatens patient safety and forces existing nurses into unsustainable workloads. The lawsuit argues the proclamation exceeds presidential authority under the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Does the lawsuit affect the EB-3 green card pathway for nurses?
- No. The lawsuit is specifically about the H-1B supplemental fee. The EB-3 Schedule A pathway — the fast-track route for internationally educated nurses to obtain US permanent residency — is unaffected. Global Nurse Force continues to place nurses through EB-3 direct sponsorship while the H-1B case is litigated.
- Are there other lawsuits challenging the same fee?
- Yes. Global Nurse Force v. Trump was the first lawsuit filed. The US Chamber of Commerce filed a second lawsuit on October 16, 2025, and a 20-state coalition filed a third lawsuit on December 12, 2025. All three cases challenge the same $100,000 fee on overlapping but distinct legal grounds.
- What does the lawsuit mean for nurses currently in process with Global Nurse Force?
- Nurses in the EB-3 Schedule A pipeline are unaffected — that pathway continues. For nurses in or planning H-1B sponsorship, Global Nurse Force is recommending alternatives where appropriate: TN visa for Canadian RNs, direct EB-3 sponsorship for non-Canadian candidates, and Change of Status for nurses already in the US. Each case is reviewed individually by Global Nurse Force's immigration team.
- Where can I read the official court filings?
- The official docket for Global Nurse Force v. Trump (4:25-cv-08454) is available on CourtListener at https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71541425/global-nurse-force-v-trump/. The Justice Action Center, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, also publishes case updates at justiceactioncenter.org.
Need a US nursing pathway that isn’t blocked by the fee?
Talk to a Global Nurse Force consultant about EB-3 Schedule A, TN visa, or Change of Status options that move forward today.