US Tightens Rules on Foreign Student Internships, Universities Pause Approvals

The administration of President Donald Trump has issued a new federal memo that seeks to restrict certain internship work authorisations for international students, prompting some major universities to temporarily pause processing such applications. The move has raised concerns among rights advocates about academic freedom and due process.

The memo, dated August 24, was issued by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It states that the program has “observed a rise in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorisations that appear to violate regulatory requirements which permit CPT only where the training is an integral part of an established curriculum.” The memo warns that colleges failing to comply with these regulations “may result in an institution losing certification to enroll foreign students.”

CPT is a type of work authorisation that allows international students on F-1 visas to gain practical experience related to their field of study. Under U.S. regulations, CPT must be an integral part of the curriculum, such as a required internship or practicum.

Following the memo, several universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Berkeley, announced they would pause certain CPT applications while reviewing the new federal guidance.

A UCLA spokesperson said, “UCLA has paused certain Curricular Practical Training authorisations while it reviews recent federal guidance and determines next steps.”

UC Berkeley’s international office described the August 24 memo as “more narrow in focus, more direct, and includes content that is more restrictive in nature” compared to an earlier memo issued in mid-August. The office said it is extending the pause for certain work authorisations “for the foreseeable future,” while continuing to process “degree-requirement” CPT and resuming processing for “Doctoral Dissertation and Master’s Thesis Research CPT.” The university said it would consult with legal experts to develop new processes aligned with federal requirements.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE’s parent agency, defended the action in a statement, saying, “Nothing about these regulations has changed. However, schools and employers should consider themselves on notice: under President Trump, abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated.”

The move is part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration targeting universities over various issues, including pro-Palestinian protests against Israel’s assault on Gaza, diversity initiatives, climate programs, and transgender policies. The administration has launched probes and threatened funding cuts, and has also revoked visas for international student protesters, describing certain demonstrations as antisemitic and sympathetic to extremists.

Rights advocates have raised concerns about free speech, academic freedom, and due process in these actions. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, have countered that opposition to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories is not inherently antisemitic, and that advocating for Palestinian rights is distinct from supporting extremism.

In a separate development, 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. The university denied the allegation, stating, “We are disappointed by the DOJ’s conclusions, which we believe are incorrect,” and maintained that its admissions policies comply with the law and are not discriminatory.

The Justice Department has made similar allegations against other schools and has indicated it seeks settlement talks. If those efforts fail, the department said it will file lawsuits.

These developments highlight the growing tension between the federal government and higher education institutions over immigration enforcement, diversity policies, and campus conduct. International students and universities now face increased uncertainty over work authorisations and compliance requirements, with potential consequences for academic programmes and research.