US Judge Stops New Restrictions on Student Visa

A US federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Monday, preventing the immediate enforcement of new Trump administration rules that would have tightened restrictions on foreign students and journalists in the United States. District Judge Dennis Saylor's order came just one day before the Department of Homeland Security's new visa rules were set to take effect. Although the ruling does not settle the main legal challenge, it temporarily halted the policy.

Under the proposed regulations, foreign students would have been allowed to remain in the US for up to four years before seeking an extension, while currently international students are permitted to stay for the duration of their studies. Foreign journalists' stay would have been reduced to 240 days, with potential extensions, while Chinese journalists would have faced a 90-day limit. A group of universities, educators, and journalists had contested the policy in court.

In his memorandum, Saylor questioned the government's arguments and expressed concern over the broad authority the rules would grant DHS officials to deny extensions without the possibility of appeal. Moreover, Saylor criticized the national security justification, stating that it "borders on the absurd." The judge has set a subsequent hearing for October 2.