Trump’s H-1B plan is a bad solution to a real problem

President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on September 19, 2025, in Washington, DC. Trump signed a series of executive orders establishing the “Trump Gold Card” and introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Donald Trump just transformed America’s high-skill immigration system. In a proclamation Friday, the president imposed a $100,000 fee on all new applications for H-1B visas (although the administration would retain the right to offer companies exemptions at will).  Such visas have long been controversial. Th