Trump admin restricts foreign student internships, warns universities could lose certification over CPT violations

The Trump administration has warned US universities that they could lose certification to enrol international students if they fail to comply with federal rules governing Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorisations.A memo issued on August 24 by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, part of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency had identified an increase in CPT authorisations that appeared to violate federal requirements, according to Reuters.CPT allows eligible international students to undertake internships or other practical training when the work is an integral part of their academic curriculum.The memo said the training must be connected to an established course of study.“Failure to comply with SEVP regulations may result in an institution losing certification to enrol foreign students,” it said.The guidance has prompted some universities to suspend or review certain internship applications for international students.The University of California, Los Angeles said it had paused some CPT authorisations while examining the federal directive.“UCLA has paused certain Curricular Practical Training authorizations while it reviews recent federal guidance and determines next steps,” a university spokesperson said.The University of California, Berkeley said the August 24 memo was narrower and more direct than an earlier directive issued in mid-August, but included stricter requirements.Its international office said it was unlikely to process some internship work authorisation applications “in the near future” and advised affected students to plan accordingly.The university said it would continue processing CPT applications linked to degree requirements. It also said it would resume processing CPT applications for doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis research and consult legal experts on procedures to meet the new requirements.The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said the underlying regulations had not changed.“Nothing about these regulations has changed,” the department said. “However, schools and employers should consider themselves on notice: under President Trump, abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated.”The warning is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting US universities. Federal agencies have opened investigations and threatened funding over issues including pro-Palestinian protests, diversity programmes, climate initiatives and transgender policies.The administration has also revoked visas held by some foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Officials have described some demonstrations as antisemitic or supportive of extremist groups.Protesters, including Jewish organisations, have rejected that description. They say criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories is not antisemitic and that support for Palestinian rights does not amount to support for extremism.The Justice Department has separately expanded its scrutiny of university admissions. On Thursday, it alleged that admissions practices at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences favoured Black and Hispanic applicants.The university disputed the findings.“We are disappointed by the DOJ’s conclusions, which we believe are incorrect,” it said, adding that its admissions policies complied with the law and were not discriminatory.The Justice Department has made similar allegations against other universities and said it was seeking settlement talks. It has threatened to file lawsuits if those discussions fail.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.