WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has asked US universities to tighten the issuance of certain work authorisations for international students, warning that institutions that fail to comply with federal immigration rules could lose their eligibility to enrol foreign students.
A federal memorandum issued on August 24 instructed universities to scrutinise applications for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), a programme that allows eligible international students on F-1 visas to undertake practical work related to their academic studies.
The memo, issued by the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP), which operates under US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said officials had identified an increase in CPT authorisations that appeared to breach existing regulations.
Under the rules, CPT can be authorised only when the practical training forms an integral part of an established academic curriculum.
“Failure to comply with SEVP regulations may result in an institution losing certification to enrol foreign students,” the memorandum warned.
Universities pause some applications
The federal guidance has already prompted several major universities to suspend or review some CPT applications.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), said it had temporarily paused certain CPT authorisations while examining the new federal guidance and determining how to proceed.
The University of California, Berkeley, meanwhile, described the latest memorandum as more direct and restrictive than an earlier federal notice issued in mid-August.
Berkeley’s international office said it was unlikely to process certain categories of CPT applications in the near future and advised affected international students to make plans accordingly.
The university said it would continue processing CPT applications linked directly to degree requirements. It also said it planned to resume processing CPT applications for doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis research.
Berkeley said it would consult legal experts and establish procedures to ensure that its practices comply with the latest federal requirements.
Rules have not changed, DHS says
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said the underlying regulations themselves had not changed.
“Nothing about these regulations has changed,” the department said, while warning universities and employers that the Trump administration would take action against what it considers misuse of the CPT system.
The administration’s latest move could affect international students who rely on practical training opportunities as part of their studies and professional development in the United States.
Broader pressure on universities
The action comes amid a wider campaign by the Trump administration targeting US universities over a range of issues.
The administration has launched investigations and threatened or restricted funding for institutions over matters including pro-Palestinian demonstrations, diversity programmes, climate-related initiatives and transgender policies.
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Civil rights organisations have expressed concerns that some of the administration’s actions could affect freedom of speech, academic freedom and due process on university campuses.
In a separate development on Thursday, the US Justice Department alleged that admissions practices at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences favoured Black and Hispanic applicants.
The allegations followed a federal investigation and form part of the administration’s broader efforts to roll back diversity-related policies in higher education.
The university rejected the findings, saying its admissions practices complied with the law and were not discriminatory.
The Justice Department has made similar allegations against other educational institutions and said it was seeking settlements where possible. It warned that it could initiate legal action if settlement efforts fail.
