Colleges across the United States froze Curricular Practical Training authorizations in August after Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued memos demanding parity for domestic students. The administration argued that if training is integral to a curriculum, American students must participate; if it is optional, it should not be reserved for international F-1 visas. This bureaucratic pivot effectively severed the pipeline for hands-on experiential learning that defines the US degree.
The Association of American Universities, alongside NAFSA and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, filed the suit citing a lack of formal rulemaking. NAFSA Executive Director Fanta Aw called the broadcast messages an "aberration" that left Designated School Officials navigating uncertainty without clarity. "Changing how CPT is administered through broadcast messages, without formal rulemaking, is an aberration that must be challenged," Aw said. The groups contend that the sudden shift ignores the legal framework governing student visas and disrupts the educational contract.
CPT operates differently from Optional Practical Training. While OPT requires a USCIS Employment Authorization Document, CPT is authorized by the school’s DSO within the SEVIS system. The government viewed this as a backdoor for job market entry. But the lawsuit argues that restricting experiential learning harms not just students, but US research and global competitiveness. Driving away international talent creates a long-term deficit in innovation and workforce development.
No court order has yet been issued. The outcome will dictate whether elective, for-credit internships survive for the next cohort of international students. For now, the freeze remains in effect, leaving thousands of F-1 visa holders in limbo as the legal process unfolds.