Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
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Okla. A.G. Drummond: Baseless ClassWallet Lawsuit Continues to Waste Tax Dollars
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 13 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
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Drummond: Baseless ClassWallet lawsuit continues to waste tax dollars
Attorney General Gentner Drummond late yesterday filed a motion to withdraw from the ongoing ClassWallet litigation, a step prompted by ClassWallet's decision to move for dismissal. Drummond said the development underscores what he has argued from the beginning: the lawsuit is frivolous, destined for dismissal and unsupported by any credible evidence.
"This lawsuit was baseless from the
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 13 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
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Drummond: Baseless ClassWallet lawsuit continues to waste tax dollars
Attorney General Gentner Drummond late yesterday filed a motion to withdraw from the ongoing ClassWallet litigation, a step prompted by ClassWallet's decision to move for dismissal. Drummond said the development underscores what he has argued from the beginning: the lawsuit is frivolous, destined for dismissal and unsupported by any credible evidence.
"This lawsuit was baseless from theoutset," Drummond said. "ClassWallet has been incorrectly blamed for the failures of the Stitt administration, whose irresponsible appointments and lack of oversight led to questionable expenditures and processes surrounding $31 million in funds intended to help families with their educational expenses during the pandemic. Every credible review of this matter has made that clear. The only question now is why hardworking Oklahomans should have to continue funding these pointless and expensive lawsuits -- tax dollars that could instead be invested in our schools and infrastructure."
The ClassWallet litigation reaffirmed the findings of both federal and state auditors, which determined that state officials were responsible for the misuse of hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal relief funding, not the vendor. The results of these comprehensive audits clearly and unequivocally attributed these failures to Stitt's administration.
Despite the clarity and repetition of these findings, Stitt's office has continued to pour exorbitant sums into multiple failed lawsuits on the matter, Drummond said.
"If the Governor were truly concerned about recovering misused dollars, he would hold accountable those actually responsible for the oversight, starting with his own office and his hand-picked Secretary of Education," he stated. "Instead, he insists on spending excessive amounts of state dollars on lawsuits he has already been told he cannot win."
Drummond said the likely outcome is the same now as it has been since the litigation began. "No one will be shocked when this case is dismissed," he stated. "But unfortunately, the state of Oklahoma and its hardworking taxpayers will have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on this charade of a lawsuit."
Read the Motion (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2025/december/Motion%20to%20Withdraw%20-%20Classwallet.pdf)
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2025/december/drummond-baseless-classwallet-lawsuit-continues-to-waste-tax-dollars.html
N.J. A.G. Platkin Sues to Block Trump Administration's Unlawful H-1B Fees
TRENTON, New Jersey, Dec. 13 -- New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
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AG Platkin Sues to Block Trump Administration's Unlawful H-1B Fees
New Jersey's Hospitals and Schools Would be Harmed by Illegal $100,000 Fee for New H-1B Visa Petitions
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Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today joined a coalition of 20 states in suing the Trump Administration over its unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that require
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TRENTON, New Jersey, Dec. 13 -- New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
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AG Platkin Sues to Block Trump Administration's Unlawful H-1B Fees
New Jersey's Hospitals and Schools Would be Harmed by Illegal $100,000 Fee for New H-1B Visa Petitions
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Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today joined a coalition of 20 states in suing the Trump Administration over its unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that requirespecialized skills, including as physicians, researchers, nurses, teachers, and other vital workers, to alleviate nationwide labor shortages.
"The Trump Administration's illegal imposition of an exorbitant $100,000 fee on those seeking H-1B visas would cause significant pain for New Jerseyans, hurting our best-in-the-nation education system, reducing access to critical health care, and setting back cutting-edge medical and scientific research," said Attorney General Platkin. "Because of this senseless and unlawful policy, our residents would see longer wait times in emergency rooms, lengthy delays for medical appointments, and more crowded classrooms. There is no rational or legal basis for this unlawful change, and we look forward to blocking this unlawful policy in court."
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation ordering an unprecedented $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, undermining the very purpose of the H-1B visa by making it harder to address severe labor shortages in critical fields such as education and health care and ultimately worsening the staffing crisis. As implemented by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a series of written documents, the policy affects any application filed after September 21, 2025.
The complaint filed today alleges that the $100,000 fee is a clear violation of the law because the massive fee is outside of the bounds of what is authorized by Congress and contrary to Congress's intent in establishing the H-1B program, bypasses required rulemaking procedures, and exceeds the authority granted to the executive branch under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
The H-1B visa program allows employers to petition for high-skilled foreign workers to temporarily fill positions in specialty occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree. In petitioning for an H-1B worker, the employer must submit an application, certified by the U.S. Department of Labor, that employment of the H-1B worker will not negatively affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. Congress limits the number of H-1B visas available each year for most private employers, with the current cap set at 65,000, with an exemption of 20,000 for individuals with a master's degree or higher.
Since its inception, the H-1B visa program has been continually tailored by Congress to carry out its purpose of meeting employers' labor needs, while protecting the interests of American workers to ensure that they are not wrongfully displaced. Congress has repeatedly enhanced enforcement, increased penalties, and legislated on fees for H-1B petitions to prevent misuse of the program. Congress has also adapted the program to ensure that it is especially beneficial to many government and non-profit organizations in fulfilling their public service missions, exempting them from the 65,000-person cap.
Fees associated with H-1B visas have long been established by DHS following the APA's notice-and-comment process pursuant to congressional authority, which limits fees to the amount necessary to sustain the agency's work. Typically, an employer filing an initial H-1B petition would expect to pay between $960 and $7,595 in regulatory and statutory fees--a far cry from the new $100,000 fee imposed by the Trump Administration.
The Trump Administration's $100,000 fee far exceeds the actual cost of processing H-1B petitions. By imposing this fee, the Administration is exceeding the fee-setting authority granted by Congress, which requires that fees be set based on the agency's costs. Additionally, the Trump Administration issued the fee without going through the notice-and-comment process required by the APA and without considering the full range of impacts of this fee--especially on the provision of critical services by government and non-profit entities.
Nationwide, immigrants on H-1B visas play a critical role in addressing labor shortages. That is especially true in New Jersey. The Garden State had the fourth-highest number of approvals for H-1B petitions for initial employment in the country in FY25 (7,729).
In New Jersey, H-1B visas have played an important role in addressing teacher shortages in K-12 schools and shortages of primary care doctors and nurses. For example, New Jersey has faced a years-long K-12 teacher shortage, resulting in increased class sizes and overburdened teachers. New Jersey has relied on H-1B visas to help address this shortage, with 20 K-12 school systems securing an H-1B approval in 2025 alone.
H-1B visas also play a critical role in addressing shortages of primary care doctors and nurses. New Jersey has nine medical residency programs that sponsor H-1B visas. And nearly one-third of New Jersey's health care workers are immigrants, and many of them are H-1B workers.
Today's lawsuit was led by California and Massachusetts. In addition to New Jersey, other states joining the lawsuit are Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
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Orignial text here: https://www.njoag.gov/ag-platkin-sues-to-block-trump-administrations-unlawful-h-1b-fees/
N.H. A.G. Formella: Dismissal of Challenge to Absentee Ballot Identification Law
CONCORD, New Hampshire, Dec. 13 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
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Dismissal of Challenge to Absentee Ballot Identification Law
Attorney General John M. Formella announces that the Rockingham County Superior Court has dismissed Robertson et al. v. Scanlan et al., a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of RSA 657:17-c, the State's absentee ballot identification verification law. The court's order notes that the identification requirement for absentee voters "aligns the requirements to obtain an absentee ballot with the requirements to
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CONCORD, New Hampshire, Dec. 13 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
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Dismissal of Challenge to Absentee Ballot Identification Law
Attorney General John M. Formella announces that the Rockingham County Superior Court has dismissed Robertson et al. v. Scanlan et al., a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of RSA 657:17-c, the State's absentee ballot identification verification law. The court's order notes that the identification requirement for absentee voters "aligns the requirements to obtain an absentee ballot with the requirements toobtain an in-person ballot."
The plaintiffs argued that the statute imposed unconstitutional burdens on absentee voters and created unequal treatment compared to in-person voters. The Court rejected those claims and upheld the law in its entirety.
"We appreciate the Court's recognition that the identification requirements for absentee voters are reasonable, constitutional, and consistent with New Hampshire's long-standing election practices," said Attorney General Formella. "This decision confirms that the Legislature acted within its authority to strengthen the integrity and consistency of our election system. I also want to acknowledge the excellent work of our Civil Litigation Unit in defending the statute."
In a detailed written order, the Court also determined that:
* RSA 657:17-c imposes only "reasonable, nondiscriminatory" obligations on absentee voters.
* The law "does not unreasonably burden the right to vote."
* The Legislature acted within its constitutional authority in establishing uniform identification standards to support secure and consistent election administration.
The Court also rejected the plaintiffs' arguments related to alleged disparate impacts, concluding that the requirements apply uniformly to all absentee voters and reflect existing, longstanding identification procedures used at the polls.
"New Hampshire's election system has always been grounded in secure processes and equal treatment for all voters," said Secretary of State David M. Scanlan. "The Court's ruling confirms that applying the same identification expectations across absentee and in-person voting is both reasonable and necessary for maintaining public confidence."
RSA 657:17-c, enacted earlier this year as Senate Bill 287 and signed into law by Governor Ayotte on August 1, requires absentee voters to provide a photocopy or digital image of a valid form of identification--or to complete a voter identity affidavit--when returning their absentee ballot application. This is the same standard required for in-person voters, who must present an acceptable form of photo identification or execute a voter affidavit at the polling place.
The Court noted that this framework maintains accessibility by offering multiple options for compliance and reinforces uniformity across voting methods.
* order-dismissing-complaint.pdf (https://www.doj.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt721/files/inline-documents/sonh/order-dismissing-complaint.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/dismissal-challenge-absentee-ballot-identification-law
Mo. A.G. Hanaway Expands Investigation Into Kratom Manufacturer And Retailers
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Dec. 13 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
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Attorney General Hanaway Expands Investigation Into Kratom Manufacturer And Retailers
Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her Office is expanding its statewide investigation, issuing six additional Civil Investigative Demands (CID) to kratom retailers operating in Missouri, following troubling reports that consumers may be exposed to unapproved, unsafe, and deceptively marketed opioid-like drugs.
"Our Office will not back down
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Dec. 13 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
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Attorney General Hanaway Expands Investigation Into Kratom Manufacturer And Retailers
Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her Office is expanding its statewide investigation, issuing six additional Civil Investigative Demands (CID) to kratom retailers operating in Missouri, following troubling reports that consumers may be exposed to unapproved, unsafe, and deceptively marketed opioid-like drugs.
"Our Office will not back downagainst businesses that choose to profit by selling powerful psychoactive compounds outside the law," said Attorney General Hanaway. "Missourians have the right to know exactly what is in the products they consume, and they deserve honesty, not companies willing to put their health in jeopardy. We won't let Missouri consumers become test subjects for dangerous and misleading opioid-like drugs."
The Attorney General's Office is expanding its CIDs to retail smoke shops believed to be manufacturing, selling, or distributing kratom products that may violate Missouri law. These six CIDs are being served on:
* Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC, a kratom manufacturer that is doing business as EDP Kratom;
* Kratom Bunny Vape and More, a kratom and retail smoke shop in O'Fallon;
* Sunshine Ventures Inc., a kratom and retail smoke shop in western Missouri;
* SmokeTokz, a company operating the smoke shop "Smoke and Vape Tokz" in Kansas City, Missouri;
* Get Plugged, a kratom and smoke shop in St. Louis, Missouri; and
* Flare Smoke N Vape, a kratom and smoke shop in Ballwin.
These companies collectively represent major points of sale in Missouri's kratom market, including retailers that reach thousands of consumers and companies known to sell or manufacture products containing mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, powerful psychoactive compounds that act on the brain in ways similar to opioids.
Kratom is derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa plant and is often marketed as a "natural supplement." However, kratom products vary widely in potency and purity, and many contain levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine far exceeding what occurs naturally in the plant. Reported side effects included death, including deaths in the state of Missouri, dependency, seizures, heart complications, liver toxicity, and other serious medical harms. No kratom product is approved by the FDA for any medical use.
The CIDs require each company to disclose, among other things detailed information about how their products are manufactured, labeled, and marketed; all ingredients used; any representations regarding safety, health effects, or "safe" dosage levels; communications with consumers about adverse effects; and any materials showing whether the company sold unapproved new drugs in violation of federal or state law. The Attorney General is also seeking information to determine whether these businesses failed to disclose the presence of psychoactive substances such as 7-hydroxymitragynine.
Missourians who believe they were misled or harmed by kratom products are encouraged to file a complaint at ago.mo.gov.
The full civil investigative demand for Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC can be read here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&id=8a43f9810a&e=d9200056fe__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!DMTXe2A3tlBRCHlNy5gFMHVt9_vu_aCtw15hrjzU81nUSFz6cmZDHi5_AFpiPBVHcLlazEtBsQAosK9A25ey8hyAgw$).
The full civil investigative demand for Kratom Bunny Vape and More can be read here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&id=eba5583c59&e=d9200056fe__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!DMTXe2A3tlBRCHlNy5gFMHVt9_vu_aCtw15hrjzU81nUSFz6cmZDHi5_AFpiPBVHcLlazEtBsQAosK9A25dWcF8sRw$).
The full civil investigative demand for Sunshine Ventures Inc. can be read here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&id=0819469317&e=d9200056fe__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!DMTXe2A3tlBRCHlNy5gFMHVt9_vu_aCtw15hrjzU81nUSFz6cmZDHi5_AFpiPBVHcLlazEtBsQAosK9A25fEB1ORYg$).
The full civil investigative demand for SmokeTokz can be read here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&id=6b2defb7ea&e=d9200056fe__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!DMTXe2A3tlBRCHlNy5gFMHVt9_vu_aCtw15hrjzU81nUSFz6cmZDHi5_AFpiPBVHcLlazEtBsQAosK9A25dv5apbMw$).
The full civil investigative demand for Get Plugged can be read here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&id=50aad76be1&e=d9200056fe__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!DMTXe2A3tlBRCHlNy5gFMHVt9_vu_aCtw15hrjzU81nUSFz6cmZDHi5_AFpiPBVHcLlazEtBsQAosK9A25ertYIQkQ$).
The full civil investigative demand for Flare Smoke N Vape can be read here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&id=3464d7c351&e=d9200056fe__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!DMTXe2A3tlBRCHlNy5gFMHVt9_vu_aCtw15hrjzU81nUSFz6cmZDHi5_AFpiPBVHcLlazEtBsQAosK9A25fkqfTM3g$).
The initial statewide investigation into five other smoke shops can be read here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&id=2323819f92&e=d9200056fe__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!DMTXe2A3tlBRCHlNy5gFMHVt9_vu_aCtw15hrjzU81nUSFz6cmZDHi5_AFpiPBVHcLlazEtBsQAosK9A25dtScVGoA$).
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Original text here: https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-hanaway-expands-investigation-into-kratom-manufacturer-and-retailers/
HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SECURES INDICTMENT AGAINST WOMAN ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM BANK CUSTOMERS
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Dec. 13 -- The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General issued the following news release:
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DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SECURES INDICTMENT AGAINST WOMAN ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM BANK CUSTOMERS
A Hawaii County Grand Jury indicted Alohi Kaupu-Grace, 24, for using her position as bank teller to embezzle more than $40,000 from the financial accounts of bank customers, including two elderly customers. The indictment was issued December 1, 2025, and her arraignment is scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m.
Kaupu-Grace is charged with three counts of Computer Fraud
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HONOLULU, Hawaii, Dec. 13 -- The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General issued the following news release:
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DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SECURES INDICTMENT AGAINST WOMAN ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM BANK CUSTOMERS
A Hawaii County Grand Jury indicted Alohi Kaupu-Grace, 24, for using her position as bank teller to embezzle more than $40,000 from the financial accounts of bank customers, including two elderly customers. The indictment was issued December 1, 2025, and her arraignment is scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m.
Kaupu-Grace is charged with three counts of Computer Fraudin the First Degree, three counts of Theft in the First Degree, one count of Computer Fraud in the Second Degree, and one count of Theft in the Second Degree.
Computer Fraud in the First Degree is a class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Theft in the First Degree and Computer Fraud in the Second Degree are class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Theft in the Second Degree is a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
"As alleged, Kaupu-Grace stole money from residents who were simply trying to conduct financial transactions at their bank. This indictment reflects the department's continued commitment to protecting Hawaii residents and maintaining the integrity of our financial institutions," said Attorney General Anne Lopez. "I am proud of the diligent efforts of our special agents and prosecutors, who work every day to go after those who abuse positions of trust. We remain steadfast in our mission to safeguard the public from corruption and financial exploitation."
The investigation was conducted by the Department of the Attorney General's Special Investigation and Prosecution Division (SIPD). SIPD is the state of Hawaii's primary law enforcement unit responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption, fraud and economic crimes.
The case, State v. Alohi Kaupu-Grace, 3CPC-25-0000956 is being prosecuted by SIPD Deputy Attorney General Thomas Michener.
Kaupu-Grace is currently pending trial in two other cases involving thefts in Hawai'i County under Case Nos. 3CPC-25-0000352 and 3CPC-25-0000429.
Criminal charges are only allegations; Kaupu-Grace is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The public can report corruption, fraud, and economic crime using the Submit a Tip to SIPD website, located at https://ag.hawaii.gov/sipd/tips/. If there is an emergency or immediate threat to life, please call 911.
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Original text here: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/News-Release-2025-101.pdf
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Wins Significant Court Victory Preventing Trump From Unlawfully Cutting Billions in FEMA Disaster Preparedness Funding
PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 13 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Wins Significant Court Victory Preventing Trump from Unlawfully Cutting Billions in FEMA Disaster Preparedness Funding
Attorney General Kris Mayes and a coalition of 20 states have won their lawsuit against the Trump Administration over its unlawful attempt to shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, designed to protect communities from natural disasters before they strike.
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 13 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Wins Significant Court Victory Preventing Trump from Unlawfully Cutting Billions in FEMA Disaster Preparedness Funding
Attorney General Kris Mayes and a coalition of 20 states have won their lawsuit against the Trump Administration over its unlawful attempt to shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, designed to protect communities from natural disasters before they strike.
"We're winning case after case as we protect Arizonans from harm and rising prices that the Trump administration continues to illegally pursue," said Attorney General Mayes. "Arizonans will notice this victory the next time a wildfire or flood hits -- thanks to the work of those in my office, our state will be prepared."
For the past 30 years, the BRIC program has provided communities across the nation with resources to proactively fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters. By focusing on mitigation, the program protects lives, communities, and property -- supporting state, tribal, and local governments to prevent the harms of disasters, rather than just recovering from them.
Arizona had been selected for BRIC grants for 25 projects, totaling $9.8 million dollars. Roughly $1.2 million of these funds were directed to the State for salaries and other management costs. The remaining BRIC funding would support critical disaster mitigation projects, including the following examples:
* A $4.6 million infrastructure project in the city of Buckeye, Arizona. The city regularly experiences floods that threaten the safety of its businesses and families. The BRIC funding would have been used to divert floodwater away from the historic downtown by connecting the drainage system to existing irrigation canals and constructing a retention basin to collect the floodwater.
* The town of Camp Verde, Arizona was similarly selected for a roughly $860,000 flood mitigation project to secure a major roadway against flooding. Emergency vehicles rely on this roadway to provide services to the area's 5,000 residents. Flooding causes significant delay in the provision of services, as well as the residents' access to the town.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed a law mandating that FEMA must protect communities through four interrelated functions - mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. The BRIC program is the core of FEMA's mitigation efforts. BRIC projects are required to be cost-effective, and a recent study concluded that every dollar FEMA spends on mitigation saves an average of six dollars in post-disaster costs
The BRIC program supports often difficult-to-fund projects, such as constructing evacuation shelters and flood walls, safeguarding utility grids against wildfires, protecting wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, and fortifying bridges, roadways, and culverts.
This court decision affirms the coalition's position that FEMA's decision to abruptly terminate the BRIC program is in direct violation of Congress's decision to fund it, and that the Executive Branch has no lawful authority to unilaterally refuse to spend funds appropriated by Congress. The judge also concluded that FEMA's actions violate Separation of Powers, the Appropriations and Spending Clauses, and the Administrative Procedures Act.
The decision prevents FEMA from terminating the BRIC program and requires the restoration of these critical funds to the communities relying on them.
Joining Attorney General Mayes in filing this lawsuit, which was co-led by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A copy of the summary judgement is available here (https://azag.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206&id=62660ddbe2&e=9153ff6c96).
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-wins-significant-court-victory-preventing-trump-unlawfully
AG Campbell Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful $100k Fee For H-1B Visa
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 13 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG Campbell Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful $100k Fee For H-1B Visa
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Boston Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell co-led a coalition of 20 states in suing the Trump Administration over its unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that require specialized skills, like physicians, researchers, and nurses, to alleviate nationwide labor
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 13 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG Campbell Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful $100k Fee For H-1B Visa
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Boston Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell co-led a coalition of 20 states in suing the Trump Administration over its unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that require specialized skills, like physicians, researchers, and nurses, to alleviate nationwide laborshortages. In the lawsuit, AG Campbell and the coalition allege that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) policy is a clear violation of the law. The policy imposes a massive fee outside the bounds of what is authorized by Congress. In addition, it is contrary to Congress's intent in establishing the H-1B program, bypasses required rulemaking procedures, and exceeds the authority granted to the executive branch under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
"The Trump Administration's unlawful fee on H-1B visas will exacerbate staffing shortages in critical fields across the Commonwealth, depriving our universities of world-class faculty and researchers and leaving our K-12 classrooms overcrowded and understaffed," said AG Campbell. "I won't stand by as this Administration imposes exorbitant fees that harm our residents and state economy."
The H-1B visa program allows employers to petition for highly skilled foreign workers to temporarily fill positions in specialty occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree when there are not enough domestic employees to fill the needed roles. Since its inception, the H-1B visa program has been continually tailored by Congress to carry out its purpose of meeting employers' labor needs while ensuring that American workers are not wrongfully displaced. On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation ordering an unprecedented $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, making it harder to address severe labor shortages in critical fields such as education and health care and ultimately worsening staffing shortages for critical positions. As implemented by DHS, the policy affects any application filed after September 21, 2025 and grants the DHS Secretary broad discretion to determine which petitions are subject to the fee or may be granted an exemption, raising concerns that the enforcement will be applied selectively against employers disfavored by the Trump Administration.
The $100,000 visa fee is devastating for all states, including Massachusetts, and threatens the quality of education, health care, and other core services available to their residents. For example, nearly 30,000 educators have H-1B visas nationwide. The University of Massachusetts alone currently sponsors more than 340 H-1B faculty, staff, and researchers. The K-12 schools, colleges, and universities hiring these educators are generally government or non-profit entities incapable of absorbing an additional $100,000 for each H-1B hire. Hospitals and other health care centers also rely on the H-1B visa program to hire physicians, surgeons, and nurses, often times in low-income and working-class neighborhoods. Nearly 17,000 H-1B visas went to workers in medicine and health occupations in the 2024 fiscal year, and half of those were physicians and surgeons. Without foreign-trained physicians, the United States projects a shortfall of 86,000 physicians by 2036.
In their lawsuit, AG Campbell and the coalition allege that the Trump Administration's H-1B visa fee violates the APA and the U.S. Constitution. Fees associated with H-1B visas have long been established by DHS following the APA's notice-and-comment process pursuant to congressional authority, which limits fees to the amount necessary to cover the cost of processing the visa. Typically, an employer filing an initial H-1B petition would expect to pay between $960 to $7,595 in regulatory and statutory fees, depending on variables like the size of the employer and whether they elect expedited processing. The Trump Administration's $100,000 fee far exceeds the actual cost of processing H-1B petitions. Additionally, the Trump Administration issued the fee without going through the notice-and-comment process required by the APA and without considering the full range of impacts especially on the provision of the critical services by government and nonprofit entities.
Joining AG Campbell in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai`i, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
* Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Original text here: https://www.mass.gov/news/ag-campbell-sues-trump-administration-over-unlawful-100k-fee-for-h-1b-visa
