The Trump administration has issued a directive warning US universities against approving certain internship work authorizations for international students that do not comply with federal regulations. This memo, dated August 24, was released by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The directive highlights a rise in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) approvals that appear inconsistent with existing rules. CPT is only allowed when the practical training is an essential component of an established academic curriculum. Institutions failing to adhere to SEVP standards risk losing their certification to enroll international students.
In response, several universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Berkeley, have suspended or paused certain work authorization applications for international students. UCLA confirmed it has temporarily halted some CPT authorizations while reviewing the new federal guidance to determine appropriate next steps.
Meanwhile, UC Berkeley’s international office described the August 24 memo as more focused, direct, and restrictive compared to an earlier federal communication issued in mid-August. Berkeley has extended its pause on some work authorizations for international students indefinitely but continues to process CPT related to degree requirements and plans to resume processing CPT for Doctoral Dissertation and Master’s Thesis Research.
The Berkeley office also stated it will consult legal experts to establish new procedures that comply with the updated federal requirements. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, emphasized that while the regulations themselves have not changed, schools and employers should consider themselves warned that abuses of the system will no longer be tolerated under President Trump’s administration.
This move is part of a broader pattern of increased scrutiny on US colleges and universities during President Trump’s second term, including investigations and funding threats linked to issues such as pro-Palestinian protests, diversity programs, climate initiatives, and transgender policies. These actions have raised concerns among rights advocates about free speech, academic freedom, and due process.
In a related development, the US Justice Department recently alleged that admissions practices at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services favored Black and Hispanic applicants, continuing the administration’s crackdown on diversity policies. The university rejected these claims, asserting its admissions policies comply with the law and are not discriminatory.
The Justice Department has made similar allegations against other institutions and indicated it seeks settlement talks before pursuing litigation. Additionally, the Trump administration has revoked visas of student protesters involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, labeling such protests as antisemitic and supportive of extremist groups. Protesters and some Jewish organizations counter that opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza and advocating for Palestinian rights do not equate to antisemitism or extremism.
