NY Attorney General Letitia James: Standing Up for Workers, Consumers, and Families
In the face of political attacks and dismissed cases tied to mortgage-fraud claims pushed by the Trump administration, New York Attorney General Letitia James continues to do the job New Yorkers elected her to do: protect consumers, workers, and families. Affectionally referred to as Tish James, she continues to take decisive action to protect working families, immigrants, and consumers across the state. In a series of recent moves, AG James has pushed back against federal policies that threaten essential services, secured major restitution for consumers harmed by corporate misconduct, and defended food assistance for New York’s most vulnerable residents.
Defending Immigrant Workers and Essential Services
Attorney General James recently joined a coalition of 18 other attorneys general to sue the Trump administration over a proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications—an unprecedented increase that would effectively dismantle the program for public institutions and nonprofits. The H-1B visa program allows highly skilled immigrants to work temporarily in the U.S., filling critical roles as doctors, nurses, teachers, researchers, engineers, and other professionals.
New York is home to more than 13,000 H-1B workers, many of whom are employed in health care, education, technology, finance, and the arts. AG James warned that the fee hike would worsen existing labor shortages, particularly in underserved and rural communities already facing severe shortages of doctors, nurses, and educators. The lawsuit argues the administration’s action is unlawful, bypassed required rulemaking, and violates federal law. If blocked, it would protect access to health care, education, and essential services for millions of New Yorkers.
