Trump administration warns universities over international student work authorizations
A federal memo warned universities that non-compliance with internship authorization rules could jeopardise certification to enrol foreign students.
Washington, United States. President Donald Trump’s administration has issued guidance seeking to restrict certain internship work authorizations for international students, warning that colleges that fail to comply could lose certification to enrol foreign students.
The August 24 memo prompted some universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Berkeley, to pause certain applications for Curricular Practical Training authorizations.
Federal guidance
The memo from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said it had observed an increase in Curricular Practical Training, or CPT, authorizations that appeared to violate regulations.
The regulations permit CPT only when training is an integral part of an established curriculum, the memo said.
“Failure to comply with SEVP regulations may result in an institution losing certification to enroll foreign students,” it said.
The Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, said the regulations had not changed.
“However, schools and employers should consider themselves on notice: under President Trump, abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated,” the department said.
University response
A UCLA spokesperson said the university had paused certain CPT authorizations while it reviewed the recent federal guidance and determined its next steps.
UC Berkeley’s international office said the August 24 memo was more narrowly focused, more direct and more restrictive than previous guidance. The federal government had also issued an earlier memo in mid-August.
The office said it was unlikely to process certain work authorization applications in the near future and advised affected international students to plan accordingly.
It said it would continue processing degree-requirement CPT as normal and would resume processing Doctoral Dissertation and Master’s Thesis Research CPT. The office said it would consult legal experts to establish processes that align with the new federal requirements.
Broader university scrutiny
Trump has targeted universities through investigations and funding threats over issues including pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel’s assault on Gaza, diversity initiatives, climate programmes and transgender policies.
Rights advocates have raised concerns about free speech, academic freedom and due process.
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