Attorney warns USCIS‑policy shifts and new fees threaten Minnesota health‑care hires and international students
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Summary
An immigration attorney told a House committee that recent federal policy and agency changes — including a reported $100,000 payment tied to some H‑1B petitions and expanded vetting — are delaying hires of US‑trained international physicians and shrinking international student enrollment, with particular consequences for rural hospitals and university STEM programs.
Sarah Peterson, an immigration attorney who represents health systems and higher‑education institutions, told the House committee that recent federal policy shifts and agency practices are disrupting Minnesota’s health‑care hiring and higher‑education enrollment.
Peterson said USCIS has shifted enforcement and vetting priorities, added administrative delays and that an administration‑reported new $100,000 payment for certain H‑1B petitions would be “cost prohibitive” for employers that recruit US‑trained international physicians and other skilled professionals. She warned that the change threatens July 1 start dates for new physicians and could force health systems to delay or lose hires in rural and underserved communities.
On higher education, Peterson said early administration steps in 2025 have reduced international student enrollment and that Minnesota is projected to lose approximately $13.4 million in tuition revenue in the 2025–26 academic year because of declining enrollment. She emphasized international students’ role in STEM pipelines and research capacity, saying their departure would harm long‑term innovation and workforce development.
Peterson concluded by urging predictable, bipartisan policy development that aligns immigration rules with workforce needs and protects access to care and education.
