Challenges Mount For International Students As Trump's USCIS Nominee Eyes OPT Ban

Last Updated:
President Trump's USCIS nominee, Joseph Edlow, plans to eliminate the OPT programme, worrying international students.
Amid ongoing uncertainties surrounding their academic future, international students in the United States face a fresh challenge, with President Donald Trump's nominee for the top role at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, indicating that he intends to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme if selected for the job.
Edlow made the statement during a recent confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, reigniting concerns among international students already navigating a complex immigration landscape, as reported by Financial Express.
In recent weeks, reportedly, many students currently on OPT have received alarming letters from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), threatening termination of their SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records and possible deportation.
One such letter, accessed by The Times of India, warned students about the absence of employer details in their SEVIS records, noting that this could count as unemployment — a violation of OPT rules. The letter gave recipients 15 days to update their records or face immigration proceedings.
What Is OPT And Why Does It Matter?
The Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme is a key pathway for international students in the U.S. to gain hands-on work experience after completing their degrees. Under this programme, eligible students are allowed to work for up to 12 months in their field of study. Those with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can apply for a 24-month extension, known as STEM OPT.
Students must report employment information in the SEVIS system to remain compliant. As per current regulations, OPT participants are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment within the standard 12-month period. For those on STEM OPT, an additional 60 days is permitted.
A move to end OPT will deeply impact the Indian students in the US, who form one of the largest international student populations in the country. According to the Open Doors 2024 report, there were 331,602 Indian students in the US during the 2023–2024 academic year. Of these, 97,556 were participating in the OPT programme — a staggering 41% increase from the previous year.
If the OPT programme is indeed dismantled, it could severely limit post-study work opportunities for Indian students and disrupt the educational and career plans of thousands. The proposed changes could also make the US a less attractive destination for higher education.
First Published:
May 28, 2025, 10:52 IST

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Business Standard

34 minutes ago

• Business Standard

B-2 stealth bombers take off from US as Donald Trump weighs Iran strike

The moves, picked up by flight tracking services on Saturday, indicate that the administration is getting the Air Force bombers in position if needed for a strike on Iran Bloomberg B-2 stealth bombers have taken off from the US and are headed over the Pacific, multiple news outlets reported, as President Donald Trump weighs American involvement in the war between Israel and Iran. The moves, picked up by flight tracking services on Saturday, indicate that the administration is getting the Air Force bombers in position if needed for a strike on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported. The planes, accompanied by refueling tankers, may be on their way to a base in Guam, according to the report. Speculation about a potential US strike aimed at Iran's nuclear program has focused on the B-2s, which would be needed to drop 30,000-pound bombs — so-called bunker busters — if Trump decided to target Iran's heavily fortified uranium enrichment site at Fordow. Israel, which is seeking to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities, does not have such weapons. Multiple B-2s appeared to be airborne and heading across the Pacific from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the New York Times reported. The Times cited flight trackers' posts on social media and air traffic control communications. The Pentagon and the White House didn't immediately return messages seeking comment. Trump's is scheduled to return to the White House Saturday and meet with his national security team. The US president has sent mixed signals, discounting European efforts to secure a diplomatic solution between Israel and Iran while keeping possible US involvement in the conflict on the table. 'I'm giving them a period of time,' Trump told reporters Friday. 'I would say two weeks would be the maximum.'

Hindustan Times

38 minutes ago

• Hindustan Times

US ‘moving' B-2 bombers to Guam amid Israel-Iran tensions: Report

The United States is relocating B-2 bombers to Guam, according to two US officials who spoke to Reuters on Saturday, as President Donald Trump considers whether to involve the US in Israel's military actions against Iran amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The US B-2 bomber, capable of carrying the 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb, is being closely watched amid ongoing tensions with Iran. (Pic used for representation) (File)(AFP ) Reuters report added that it remains uncertain whether the deployment is directly connected to the escalating tensions in the Middle East. The officials, who requested anonymity, withheld additional details. One of them told Reuters that no forward orders had been issued to move the bombers beyond Guam. The number of B-2 aircraft being deployed was also not disclosed. The Pentagon has not yet responded to a request for comment. As hostilities between Israel and Iran entered a second week, both sides launched fresh attacks, including another strike on the Isfahan nuclear facility. Meanwhile, Trump's stance on potential U.S. involvement remains unclear. The president, who seldom stays in Washington over the weekend, is expected to return to the White House on Saturday evening for an undisclosed "National Security Meeting." On Friday, Trump said Iran had a "maximum" of two weeks to avert potential U.S. airstrikes, suggesting that a decision might come before the two-week period he mentioned a day earlier. What do we know about B-2 bombers? The US B-2 bomber, capable of carrying the 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb, is being closely watched amid ongoing tensions with Iran. The GBU-57, also known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, is the only weapon known to be able to destroy deeply buried nuclear sites like Iran's Fordow facility, according to AFP. Israel does not possess this type of weapon. Experts are monitoring whether the B-2s will be moved to Diego Garcia, a US-British military base in the Indian Ocean, which is considered strategically well-positioned for Middle East operations. B-2s were previously stationed there until last month before being replaced by B-52 bombers. Meanwhile, Israel claimed Saturday it had killed a senior Iranian commander amid continued airstrikes between the two sides. Iran responded by saying it would not negotiate over its nuclear program while under threat. Israel insists Iran is nearing nuclear weapons capability, while Tehran maintains its program is purely peaceful. President Donald Trump has indicated he may decide within two weeks whether to involve the US militarily, saying the delay would allow time "to see whether or not people come to their senses." Earlier this week, Reuters reported a major US military build-up, including a large number of tanker aircraft sent to Europe and fighter jets deployed to the Middle East. Additionally, a US aircraft carrier currently in the Indo-Pacific is en route to the region.

India Today

41 minutes ago

• India Today

Cameras, courts and confidentiality: Inside Election Commission's 45-day rule

While one is hearing whispers from many quarters that videos from the polling stations should be made available, sources with the Election Commission have told India today that this is VOTER SECRECY COMES FIRST - ECIThe Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken a firm stance:It will not yield to political privacy and security are will not be released publicly except under court secrecy is a constitutional guarantee, protected under Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Any violation of this confidentiality is a punishable offence, inviting imprisonment, fines, or FOOTAGE: WHY IT'S STORED AND WHY IT CAN'T BE SHARED Despite mounting pressure from political parties and advocacy groups, polling station footage will not be made public, sources within the Election Commission told India video recordings related to polling are preserved for 45 days after election results are declared in line with the statutory window for filing an Election Petition (EP) under Indian such a petition is filed, the footage is retained until the legal proceedings conclude and may be submitted in court if EXACTLY GETS RECORDED?The Election Commission deploys video surveillance and webcasting extensively to uphold transparency and accountability throughout the election process. Recordings cover:EVM checking and storageMovement and transport of voting machinesActivities inside and outside polling stations on voting dayThe counting processCampaign events and public ralliesadvertisementThis system allows the EC to track expenditures, ensure compliance with the Model Code of Conduct, and address any electoral violations PUBLIC SHARING OF THIS FOOTAGE IS PROBLEMATICDespite its critical role in election monitoring, this footage is not intended for public release. Calls to make it public, although framed as transparency demands, are both misleading and dangerous, the EC cautions. Key Risks Include:Threat to Voter PrivacyPolling footage can unintentionally disclose:Identities of voters entering of individual about voter turnout or access to such data can lead to:Voter profilingTargeted harassment or intimidationRetaliation in areas with low or 'undesirable' turnoutSources in the EC stress that such risks strike at the heart of free and fair LEGAL SHIELD: SECRECY AND THE COURTSSupreme Court Precedent: Right Not to Vote = Right to PrivacyIn the landmark case People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (2013), the Supreme Court ruled that:Citizens have the right not to right is covered under the right to the act of abstaining from voting must be kept non-voters could expose them to coercion, pressure, or social discrimination, all of which are = A 'LIVE' FORM 17AadvertisementElection footage effectively mirrors Form 17A, a sensitive record maintained at polling stations that logs:Voter arrival roll from polling stations captures similar details, making it equivalent to a 'live' version of Form Rule 93(1) of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, Form 17A is protected from public access and can only be examined under court supervision. Since video footage captures similar data, its public release without legal sanction is equally OF MISUSE: A REAL POSSIBILITYMaking this footage publicly accessible can have severe consequences:Political actors may identify and target voters who didn't support may face harassment, inducement, or social can be edited or misused, fuelling conspiracy theories and prevent such scenarios, the EC discourages footage retention beyond 45 days unless a legal challenge necessitates MEANT FOR INTERNAL OVERSIGHT, NOT PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIONWebcasting serves as a real-time monitoring mechanism for the EC, helping prevent malpractice and streamline election its purpose is strictly a court requires this footage during an election petition, the EC will provide it with full assurance that judicial processes also safeguard voter Watch