The Trump administration has issued new guidance restricting internship work authorizations for international students, warning universities of potential loss of certification. UCLA and UC Berkeley have paused certain applications pending review.
The administration's actions could impact the ability of international students to gain practical work experience in the U.S., potentially affecting their academic programs and future career prospects, while also raising concerns about academic freedom and due process.
The Trump 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.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.