The Trump administration has issued new guidance to US universities restricting certain internship work authorizations for international students and warning institutions that fail to follow federal regulations could lose their certification to enroll foreign students.
The guidance, issued in an August 24 memo by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) under US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), focuses on Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Officials said they had observed an increase in CPT authorizations that appeared to violate existing rules.
Under federal regulations, CPT is permitted only when the practical training is an integral part of an established academic curriculum.
The memo warned that universities failing to comply with SEVP requirements could face the loss of their certification to enroll international students.
The new guidance has already affected some major universities. UCLA and UC Berkeley have paused certain CPT applications while reviewing the updated federal requirements.
A UCLA spokesperson confirmed that some CPT authorizations had been temporarily suspended while the university assesses the guidance and determines its next steps.
UC Berkeley’s international office described the August 24 memo as more direct and restrictive than previous guidance issued earlier in August. The university said it would maintain a pause on certain work authorizations for the foreseeable future while consulting legal experts and developing procedures to comply with federal rules.
However, Berkeley will continue processing CPT applications connected to degree requirements and will resume applications for Doctoral Dissertation and Master’s Thesis Research CPT.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the underlying regulations themselves have not changed, but warned universities and employers that the administration would take action against misuse of the system.
The latest move comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and US universities over issues including campus protests, diversity programs, climate initiatives and transgender policies. Rights advocates have expressed concerns about the potential impact on free speech, academic freedom and due process.
