Trump Administration Tightens Oversight of International Student Work Authorizations

Universities across the United States face heightened pressure as President Donald Trump's administration moves to restrict certain internship work approvals for foreign scholars, cautioning higher education institutions that non-compliance could cost them their eligibility to enroll international students.

In a memorandum dated August 24, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program—an operation within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency—noted it has "observed a rise in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations that appear to violate regulatory requirements which permit CPT only where the training is an integral part of an established curriculum."

The guidance explicitly warned higher education leadership about the potential consequences of failing to adhere to federal standards. "Failure to comply with SEVP regulations may result in an institution losing certification to enroll foreign students," the memo said.

The federal directive prompted immediate administrative pauses at major academic institutions, including the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Berkeley, both of which temporarily suspended processing particular work permit applications for international students.

Clarifying their operational status, a UCLA spokesperson said: "UCLA has paused certain Curricular Practical Training authorizations while it reviews recent federal guidance and determines next steps," as campus administrators evaluate the new federal expectations.

International student advisers at UC Berkeley characterized the August 24 communication as "more narrow in focus, more direct, and includes content that is more restrictive in nature." This followed a prior document federal authorities distributed in mid-August.

Advisers at UC Berkeley signaled to their foreign student population that processing for specific work authorization approvals is unlikely "in the near future," advising impacted students to adjust their plans accordingly.

The university noted that mandatory "degree-requirement" CPT processing remains active as normal and confirmed it would resume handling "Doctoral Dissertation and Master's Thesis Research CPT." The office added that it will consult legal experts to develop revised processes aligned with the updated federal requirements.

Defending the action, the Department of Homeland Security—ICE's parent agency—stated, "Nothing about these regulations has changed," in an official release. "However, schools and employers should consider themselves on notice: under President Trump, abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated."

This latest regulatory move comes amid a broader administration campaign targeting American universities through probes and funding threats over campus pro-Palestinian demonstrations against U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza, diversity initiatives, climate programs, and transgender policies.

Rights advocates have raised serious concerns about free speech, academic freedom, and due process.

In a separate action reflecting the administration's ongoing diversity crackdown, the U.S. Justice Department alleged on Thursday that admissions practices at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services favored Black and Hispanic applicants, citing findings from a federal investigation.

Pushing back against the allegations, the university rejected the federal findings. "We are disappointed by the DOJ's conclusions, which we believe are incorrect," the university said, maintaining that its admissions policies complied fully with the law and were not discriminatory.

Federal prosecutors have alleged similar admissions bias at other academic institutions, saying the department aims to settle. If those negotiation efforts fail, the government intends to file formal lawsuits, it said.

Simultaneously, the administration under Trump has revoked the visas of foreign student protesters involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations that federal officials cast as antisemitic and sympathetic to extremists.

Demonstrators, including several Jewish groups, contend that opposition to Israel's assault on Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories is not antisemitic, maintaining that advocacy for Palestinian rights is distinct from supporting extremism.