President Trump’s new $100,000 visa fee for skilled workers threatens to stall Maine’s progress in science, healthcare, and education. Employers across the state—from research labs to hospitals—depend on the H-1B visa program to fill specialized roles that simply cannot be met by the local workforce.

Nowhere is this more urgent than at Jackson Laboratory, Maine’s largest H-1B employer. Their world-renowned research is advancing biomedical discoveries that touch millions of lives. Yet under this new rule, even institutions like Jackson Labs—along with smaller research facilities and universities—will face steep financial barriers to hiring the talent they need.

This isn’t about replacing American workers. It’s about filling critical gaps that sustain our economy, strengthen our healthcare system, and keep Maine at the forefront of innovation. Patrick Woodcock of the Maine Chamber of Commerce has warned that smaller businesses in particular cannot justify such an expense. Without exemptions, the result could be lost jobs here at home, stalled research, and fewer breakthroughs in medicine.

We cannot allow a one-size-fits-all policy to undermine Maine’s economic future and global leadership in science. There is a better path forward—one that balances the goal of protecting American jobs with the need to support institutions that are building knowledge, creating local employment, and developing life-saving treatments.

We call on President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security to immediately reconsider this $100,000 visa fee. Exemptions must be made for nonprofit research institutions, universities, and small businesses that depend on skilled workers to keep their doors open and their labs running.

Sign this petition to demand that federal leaders protect scientific progress and economic growth by ensuring the H-1B program remains accessible for those who need it most.

Photo: Aaron Boothroyd/The Jackson Laboratory