(The Center Square) – A coalition of education and union groups sued the Trump administration, seeking to block a rule that would impose time limits on visas for international students, exchange visitors and foreign journalists.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, seeks to block a Department of Homeland Security rule from taking effect Sept. 15. The coalition argues the changes could disrupt international students’ education and discourage foreign students from coming to the United States.
Under the rule, F visas for international students and J visas for exchange visitors would be limited to four years, and I visas for foreign journalists would be limited to 240 days.
The plaintiffs, led by organizations like the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and the American Federation of Teachers, argue the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act because it is arbitrary and capricious and was adopted without adequate procedural notice or consideration.
“They will discourage foreign students and other nonimmigrants from coming to the United States, repelled by the intolerable prospect of losing lawful immigration status partway through their studies. Students will lose opportunities, schools will lose talent, and the public will lose billions of dollars of economic contributions supported by one of the United States’ top exports: education,” the lawsuit states.
Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, said in a statement that the new limits could interfere with students’ ability to complete their programs and make the United States less competitive in attracting international students.
“This latest assault on knowledge by the Trump administration arbitrarily limits how long international scholars have to complete their studies and risks turning a welcoming environment for students into a hostile one,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement.
The lawsuit comes as the Trump administration has moved to impose additional restrictions on immigration and foreign nationals in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security says the regulation eliminates the “duration of status” policy that allowed foreign students, exchange visitors and media representatives to remain in the United States without a fixed end date, subject to maintaining their status.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the rule, saying foreign students have been admitted indefinitely for decades, allowing some to “abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the U.S.”
The White House deferred to DHS for comment, but The Center Square did not get a response in time for publication.
The Center Square reached out to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and AFT for a comment but did not receive a response.
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"Esther is an education reporter for The Center Square. Please email her at ewickham@thecentersquare.com for tips or questions."
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