US seeks to limit internships for international students

The US administration, under President Donald Trump, has issued a memo to universities aiming to restrict certain internship work authorisations for international students. The memo, dated August 24, warns that colleges non-compliant with the regulations might lose certification to enroll foreign students. The memo specifically addresses Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, part of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, has observed an increase in authorisations that seemingly violate the regulation.

This regulation permits CPT only when the training is an integral part of an established curriculum. Notably, institutions like the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Berkeley have paused certain applications for work authorisations for international students while they review the recent federal guidance.

UCLA has paused specific Curricular Practical Training authorisations, while UC Berkeley's international office noted that the memo is more restrictive. The federal government has also issued an earlier memo in mid-August, and UC Berkeley's international office is unlikely to process certain work authorisation applications in the near future.

The office will continue processing degree-requirement CPT as usual and plans to resume processing Doctoral Dissertation and Master's Thesis Research CPT. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that the regulations have not changed, but schools and employers should be aware that under President Trump, abusing the generous system will not be tolerated.

President Trump has targeted universities with probes and funding threats over various issues, including pro-Palestinian protests, diversity initiatives, climate programmes, and transgender policies. Rights advocates have raised concerns about free speech, academic freedom, and due process. Separately, the US Justice Department alleged that the admissions practices at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services favoured Black and Hispanic applicants, accusing the university of discriminatory admissions policies.