President of United States (US) Donald Trump’s administration has warned universities that they can lose certification to enrol international students if they fail to comply with federal rules governing internship work authorisations, prompting some institutions to suspend certain applications.
A federal memo dated August 24 said the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP), part of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had observed an increase in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorisations that appeared to violate regulatory requirements.
CPT allows eligible international students to undertake practical training related to their studies. Under federal rules, such training must be an integral part of an established academic curriculum, the memo said.
“Failure to comply with SEVP regulations may result in an institution losing certification to enrol foreign students,” the memo said.
The guidance has prompted the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the University of California, Berkeley, to pause certain CPT applications.
“UCLA has paused certain Curricular Practical Training authorisations while it reviews recent federal guidance and determines next steps,” a university spokesperson said.
UC Berkeley’s international office described the latest memo as narrower, more direct and more restrictive than federal guidance issued earlier in August.
The office said that it will continue processing CPT linked to degree requirements while pausing other categories for the foreseeable future.
It also said it will resume processing CPT for doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis research and consult legal experts on procedures to comply with the new requirements.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said that the regulations themselves had not changed.
“Schools and employers should consider themselves on notice: under President Trump, abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated,” the department stressed.
The administration has taken a broader approach towards US universities, including investigations and funding threats over issues involving pro-Palestinian protests, diversity programmes, climate initiatives and transgender policies.
