White House makes US internships harder for international students
The US government has issued a mandate tightening the rules for international student internships, warning that noncompliant universities could lose their ability to enrol foreign scholars.
An August 24 federal memo from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program noted a rise in Curricular Practical Training authorisations that allegedly violate regulations. The agency, part of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stressed that CPT is only permissible when it serves as an integral part of an established curriculum.
Failure to follow the directive could result in institutions losing their certification to host international students. The Department of Homeland Security stated that while the underlying regulations remain unchanged, President Donald Trump‘s administration will no longer tolerate abuse of the system.
Universities respond
In response, major institutions such as the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Berkeley, have paused processing certain work authorisations to review the federal guidance.
A UCLA spokesperson confirmed the university suspended specific CPT approvals while determining its next steps. Similarly, UC Berkeley’s international office described the latest memo as highly restrictive.
While Berkeley will continue processing degree-requirement CPTs alongside doctoral and master’s research applications, it has warned students that other work authorisations are unlikely to proceed in the near future. The university is consulting legal experts to align its processes with the new demands.
Broader university crackdown
The internship restrictions arrive amid a wider federal campaign targeting higher education over diversity initiatives, climate programmes and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
The Justice Department has recently accused the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences of favouring Black and Hispanic applicants.
The agency indicated it is seeking settlement talks regarding the alleged bias and will file lawsuits if negotiations fail. The university rejected the findings, maintaining its admissions policies comply with the law.
Additionally, the Trump administration has revoked the visas of international students involved in protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Officials have characterised these demonstrations as antisemitic and as sympathetic to extremists.
Conversely, protesters and civil rights groups argue that advocating for Palestinian rights and opposing military occupation does not equate to antisemitism or extremism. Advocates have consistently raised concerns regarding academic freedom, due process and free speech as the federal government increases its scrutiny of university campuses.
