U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Anchorage issued an injunction halting the Trump administration’s $100,000 surcharge on new H‑1B visas. The judge found the fee violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution, labeling it an undisclosed tax. The decision also halts enforcement of the related proclamation that had been set to take effect in July.

Alaska relies heavily on foreign educators; 573 international teachers work in the state, 341 of them on H‑1B visas. Rural districts can see up to 80% of staff sourced from this program, and schools already spend $6,000‑$12,000 per teacher for recruitment. District leaders warned that without a waiver, some schools might have to cut core courses. The $100,000 fee would have made those hires untenable.

Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan co‑authored S.4087, legislation exempting public‑school employees from non‑processing H‑1B fees. Murkowski praised the injunction as “welcome relief” for districts scrambling to staff before the fall term. The bill now moves to the House where supporters hope for swift passage. With the surcharge blocked, Alaska’s schools can continue hiring the teachers needed to keep classrooms full today.