Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Trump Administration Tightens Scrutiny of International Student Internships
The Trump administration told colleges to check international students’ internships more carefully.
These internships are part of a program called Curricular Practical Training, or CPT.
The government says CPT should be an important and established part of a student’s school curriculum.
It warned that colleges could lose permission to enroll international students if they break the rules.
UCLA and UC Berkeley paused some applications while they studied the guidance.
Berkeley said internships required for a degree would continue, and some research-related internships would resume.
Federal officials said the underlying regulations had not changed.
Some universities and rights advocates said the guidance seemed more restrictive and raised concerns about fairness and academic freedom.
A federal memo urges universities to ensure Curricular Practical Training is integral to established curricula.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program warned that noncompliant institutions could lose certification to enroll foreign students.
UCLA and UC Berkeley paused certain international-student work-authorization applications while reviewing the guidance.
UC Berkeley said degree-required CPT would continue and dissertation and thesis research CPT would resume.
Federal officials described the action as enforcement of existing rules, while universities and advocates raised broader concerns about restrictions and due process.
- Who
- The Trump administration, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, universities and international students.
- What
- Federal guidance seeks tighter scrutiny and enforcement of certain Curricular Practical Training work authorizations.
- When
- The key memo was dated August 24, 2026; related reports were published August 27-28, 2026.
- Where
- The guidance applies to U.S. universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Berkeley.
- Why
- Federal officials said they observed an increase in CPT authorizations that appeared inconsistent with the requirement that training be integral to an established curriculum.
Federal enforcement position
University and advocate concerns
Purpose of the memo
Federal enforcement position
Federal officials said they were enforcing existing CPT requirements after observing authorizations that appeared not to be integral to established curricula.
University and advocate concerns
UC Berkeley said the August 24 guidance was narrower, more direct and more restrictive, leading it to pause certain applications and consult legal experts.
What changed
Federal enforcement position
The Department of Homeland Security said nothing about the regulations had changed and characterized the action as a warning against abuse.
University and advocate concerns
An education analysis said the guidance changed how the existing rules would be interpreted and enforced, particularly for elective or course-credit CPT.
Broader university policy
Federal enforcement position
The administration and Justice Department said university investigations address alleged admissions bias and other policy concerns; officials have also characterized some protests as antisemitic or sympathetic to extremists.
University and advocate concerns
Universities, protesters and rights advocates disputed some government conclusions and raised concerns about discrimination, free speech, academic freedom and due process.
- Issuing program
- The Student and Exchange Visitor Program, operating under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, issued the memo.
- Memo date
- August 24, 2026
- Program affected
- Curricular Practical Training allows certain F-1 international students to undertake internships and other practical training during their studies.
- Federal requirement
- CPT must be integral to an established curriculum, according to the memo.
- Potential consequence
- An institution could lose certification to enroll foreign students for failing to comply with applicable regulations.
- University responses
- UCLA and UC Berkeley paused certain work-authorization applications while reviewing the guidance.
- Berkeley exceptions
- Berkeley said it would continue degree-requirement CPT and resume Doctoral Dissertation and Master’s Thesis Research CPT.
- Federal position
- The Department of Homeland Security said the regulations had not changed but warned that abuse would not be tolerated.
Sources
Trump administration seeks to restrict internships for international students
Trump administration seeks curbs on internship work authorisations for international students
Trump Administration Tightens Internship Rules for International Students: What Changed and What Did Not
Trump administration seeks to restrict internships for international students
Trump Moves To Restrict Internships For Foreign Students