South Korean women sue U.S. military

More than 100 South Korean women have accused the United States military of forcing them into prostitution between the 1950s and 1980s.

The Rebel Yellow - Issue #124

Asian immigrants face new uncertainty after the Trump administration announced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, a change expected to hit Indian and Chinese workers the hardest. At the same time, officials say two million undocumented immigrants have been deported or left the U.S. in Trump’s first 250 days. Lawmakers are also fighting to recognize AANAPISI Week after funding cuts to colleges that serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students. From burglary rings targeting Asian families to survivors in South Korea suing the U.S. military over decades-old abuse, these stories highlight the challenges Asian communities face in the U.S. and abroad.

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Asian workers hit hardest by Trump’s new $100K H-1B visa fee

President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas has created widespread uncertainty among skilled foreign workers, with Asian immigrants — who represent the majority of program participants — facing the greatest impact.

Visa process transformed: Trump’s proclamation last Friday, which took effect at 12:01 EST Sunday, raises application costs from the current $2,000 to $5,000 range up to $100,000. Amid panicked reactions, the White House clarified that the increase only affects future applications, leaving current visa holders and renewals unchanged.

Still, immigration lawyers report continued uncertainty for existing holders who travel abroad and file extensions after Sept. 21. Beyond the cost hike, the administration unveiled plans yesterday to overhaul the visa allocation system, scrapping the existing random lottery for a merit-based approach that gives multiple entries to higher-wage applicants in the selection pool.

What this means for Asian workers: The change primarily affects Asian professionals: Indian nationals secured 73% of approved H-1B applications in fiscal 2023, while Chinese workers claimed another 12%. The former demographic has historically produced prominent corporate leaders through the H-1B pathway, including current CEOs Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Sundar Pichai of Alphabet and Shantanu Narayen of Adobe. That being said, the new policy’s financial impact would be substantial. Amazon’s 10,000-plus visa approvals from early 2025 would generate $1 billion in fees, while Indian IT giant Tata Consultancy Services, the second-largest beneficiary of H-1B visas, faces a $550 million bill for its 5,500 petitions.

While the new policy includes a national security exemption for workers deemed in the “national interest,” no guidance exists yet on how to obtain such waivers. As a result, some financial analysts expect employers to shift more operations to Canada and Mexico rather than absorb these costs, limiting H-1B usage to positions where American talent remains unavailable.

Panicked communities: The proclamation triggered immediate chaos among Asian immigrant communities, including a three-hour flight delay on an Emirates plane from San Francisco to Dubai. There, panicked H-1B holders reportedly scrambled to understand if they could re-enter the country, with some passengers choosing to leave the aircraft. Tech companies Microsoft and Google also advised their H-1B employees traveling abroad to return to the U.S. immediately to avoid potential re-entry issues.

On Saturday, the Indian government warned that the policy could have “humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families.” Meanwhile, headlines about China’s own K-visa program, announced last month to attract foreign STEM professionals under 45 and set to take effect Oct. 1, sparked interest online.

The administration faces a 30-day public comment period for the lottery system changes, with final implementation potentially taking months amid expected court challenges and broader tensions with major Asian economies over immigration and trade policies.

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Trump admin deports 2 million in first 250 days

Though officials have struggled to meet their daily targets, two million undocumented immigrants have been removed or self-deported since Jan. 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday.