Trump Administration Reassesses OPT Work Program for Foreign Students

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is reviewing the future of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a move that could reshape post-graduation work opportunities for hundreds of thousands of foreign students in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed the review in a letter from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Senator Eric Schmitt. In the letter, Noem said the department is evaluating whether the current regulatory framework governing practical training for F-1 visa holders “appropriately serves U.S. labor market, tax, and national security interests and remains aligned with congressional intent.”

OPT allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the United States for up to 12 months after completing their degrees. Graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields may apply for a 24-month extension, allowing them to work for up to three years in total.

Noem acknowledged what she described as “the significant increase in the number of foreign student visa holders engaged in practical training programs and the potential risks and challenges.” She added that DHS “is committed to ensuring that immigration programs operate in the interests of American workers and to protecting U.S. national security interests.”

According to the letter, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program is aware of the concerns raised and “is taking action to mitigate vulnerabilities and address” them.

The secretary also noted that OPT and related training opportunities were created through regulation rather than explicit statutory language passed by Congress. “Consistent with President Trump’s direction and the administration’s America First immigration policy, DHS is reevaluating whether the current regulatory framework — including the scope and duration of practical training — appropriately serves U.S. labor market, tax, and national security interests and remains aligned with congressional intent,” she wrote.

Beyond the review, DHS signaled that formal regulatory changes may be forthcoming. The department intends to reexamine practical training requirements through a rulemaking process, a proposal that was included in the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda. According to Noem, the rule would seek to amend existing regulations “to protect U.S. workers from being displaced by foreign nationals, address fraud and national security concerns, and enhance the Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s capacity to oversee the program.”

Schmitt, in an earlier letter to DHS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, described OPT as a “work benefit” established by regulation rather than statute and urged the department to conduct a “thorough review” aimed at reforming or potentially ending the program.

The review comes amid broader scrutiny of employment-based immigration pathways under the administration’s America First framework. Programs created or expanded through executive action have faced renewed examination as the White House signals a tougher stance on labor-market protections.

The potential changes carry significant implications for countries that send large numbers of students to U.S. universities. More than 300,000 Indian students are currently studying in the United States, many of whom rely on OPT after graduation as a bridge to longer-term employment visas such as the H-1B.

Any regulatory overhaul could alter that pathway, leaving universities, employers, and international students closely watching DHS’s next steps. (Source: IANS)