The Trump administration has issued new guidance to universities, restricting certain internship work authorizations for international students. Colleges not complying with the regulations risk losing their certification to enroll foreign students.
The new restrictions on international student internships could impact the educational and career opportunities for foreign students in the U.S. and may affect universities' ability to attract and retain international talent.
President Donald Trump's administration has issued new guidance to universities that restricts certain internship work authorizations for international students. The federal memo, dated August 24, states that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has observed an increase in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations that appear to violate regulations, which permit CPT only when it is an integral part of an established curriculum.
Colleges that fail to comply with SEVP regulations may lose their certification to enroll foreign students, according to the memo. In response, some universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Berkeley, have paused certain applications for these work authorizations. A UCLA spokesperson confirmed the pause while the university reviews the federal guidance.
UC Berkeley's international office described the August 24 memo as more restrictive than an earlier one issued in mid-August and has extended its pause on certain work authorizations indefinitely. The office will continue processing degree-requirement CPT and resume processing for Doctoral Dissertation and Master's Thesis Research CPT, while consulting legal experts on new processes.
The Trump administration has previously targeted universities with investigations and funding threats over various issues, including pro-Palestinian protests, diversity initiatives, admissions, climate programs, and transgender policies. Rights advocates have raised concerns about free speech, academic freedom, and due process. Separately, the U.S. Justice Department alleged biased admissions favoring Black and Hispanic applicants at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services, threatening legal action if settlement talks fail. The administration has also revoked visas of student protesters involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.