Headlines:
DHS Finalizes H-1B ‘Weighted Choice’ Rule With out Modifications – Underneath the brand new course of, as an alternative of a random lottery, registrations for distinctive beneficiaries or petitions can be assigned to the related Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage degree and entered into the choice pool on a weighted foundation based on these ranges.
A number of States Help Plaintiffs in Amicus Transient Towards New $100,000 H-1B Payment – The transient asks the choose to quickly block a brand new Trump administration coverage to cost new H-1B immigrant visa candidates a $100,000 payment. Amongst different issues, the states and different plaintiffs argue that the payment would exclude nonprofits and faculties which are unable to afford hiring certified H-1B staff.
Trump Administration Plans to Construct Seven Giant Deportation Services Throughout United States – The Trump administration plans to hunt contractors to construct seven giant detention facilities, together with transformed warehouses, to carry 5,000 to 10,000 detainees every, for a complete of greater than 80,000 detainees throughout the US. Sixteen smaller processing amenities will maintain as much as 1,500 folks every.
European Leaders Denounce U.S. Journey Sanctions Attributed to ‘Censorship’ – European leaders had been fast to denounce the Trump administration’s imposition of visa bans on 5 officers and activists who Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated “have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.”
Particulars:
DHS Finalizes H-1B ‘Weighted Choice’ Rule With out Modifications
On December 23, 2025, the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) introduced a closing rule implementing a weighted choice course of that usually favors the allocation of H-1B visas to those that are, within the administration’s view, “higher-skilled and higher-paid.” The rule governs the method by which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) selects H-1B registrations for distinctive beneficiaries for submitting of H-1B cap-subject petitions (or H-1B petitions for any yr through which the registration requirement is suspended). DHS obtained 17,000 feedback and made no modifications from the proposed rule. Court docket challenges are anticipated to comply with.
Underneath the brand new course of, as an alternative of a random lottery, registrations for distinctive beneficiaries or petitions can be assigned to the related Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage degree and entered into the choice pool as follows: (1) registrations for distinctive beneficiaries or petitions assigned wage degree IV can be entered into the choice pool 4 instances; (2) these assigned wage degree III can be entered into the choice pool thrice; (3) these assigned wage degree II can be entered into the choice pool two instances; and (4) these assigned wage degree I can be entered into the choice pool one time. Every distinctive beneficiary will solely be counted as soon as towards the numerical allocation projections no matter what number of registrations had been submitted for that beneficiary or what number of instances the beneficiary is entered within the choice pool, DHS stated. The brand new closing rule is anticipated to make it considerably much less possible that corporations will rent worldwide college students after they graduate from U.S. universities.
The ultimate rule, to be printed on December 29, 2025, is efficient February 27, 2026, and can be in place for the Fiscal 12 months 2027 H-1B cap registration season.
A number of States Help Plaintiffs in Amicus Transient Towards New $100,000 H-1B Payment
Based on reviews, a number of states joined an amicus transient supporting plaintiffs in International Nurse Power v. Trump, filed within the Northern District of California. The transient asks the choose to quickly block a brand new Trump administration coverage to cost new H-1B immigrant visa candidates a $100,000 payment. Amongst different issues, the states and different plaintiffs argue that the payment would exclude from hiring certified H-1B staff nonprofits and faculties which are unable to afford it.
The amicus transient contains the attorneys common of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
One other court docket has upheld the payment.
Trump Administration Plans to Construct Seven Giant Deportation Services Throughout United States
Based on reviews, the Trump administration plans to hunt contractors to construct seven giant detention facilities, together with transformed warehouses, to carry 5,000 to 10,000 detainees every, for a complete of greater than 80,000 detainees throughout the US. Sixteen smaller processing amenities will maintain as much as 1,500 folks every.
The bigger amenities can be in Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia. The smaller amenities can be in Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.
European Leaders Denounce U.S. Journey Sanctions Attributed to ‘Censorship’
Based on reviews, European leaders had been fast to denounce the Trump administration’s imposition of visa bans on 5 officers and activists who Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated “have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.”
French president Emmanuel Macron stated the ban was “intimidation and coercion geared toward undermining European digital sovereignty.” European Council President António Costa stated that “such measures are unacceptable between allies, companions, and associates,” and the European Fee stated that “if wanted, we are going to reply swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy in opposition to unjustified measures.”
One of many focused officers, former European Union (EU) commissioner Thierry Breton, is taken into account a mastermind of the EU’s landmark Digital Providers Act (DSA). “Is McCarthy’s witch hunt again? As a reminder: 90% of the European Parliament—our democratically elected physique—and all 27 Member States unanimously voted [for] the DSA. To our American associates: ‘Censorship isn’t the place you assume it’s,’ ” Mr. Breton stated on X.
One other goal is Imran Ahmed, founder and chief government officer of the Heart for Countering Digital Hate. Mr. Ahmed, a U.S. everlasting resident and British nationwide, filed a lawsuit in opposition to Trump administration officers, leading to a restraining order from a federal choose quickly forbidding the administration from arresting or detaining Mr. Ahmed earlier than his case might be heard. “I cannot be bullied away from my life’s work of preventing to maintain kids protected from social media’s hurt and stopping antisemitism on-line,” he stated.
Agency within the Information
Cyrus Mehta appeared on a CNBC program concerning the new H-1B wage prioritization rule and the $100,000 payment. This system was broadcast in India nationally and launched on YouTube.
