The Trump administration’s recent warning to U.S. universities regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations has led to major institutions like UCLA and UC Berkeley pausing certain applications for international students.
The Trump administration is intensifying scrutiny of U.S. universities concerning their authorization of internships and practical training for international students. A memo issued on August 24 by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), cautioned colleges that they could jeopardize their ability to enroll foreign students if they do not adhere to federal regulations.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows international students in F-1 status to engage in off-campus employment, internships, or other practical training directly related to their academic programs. This training is only permitted when it is closely connected to the student’s course of study and recognized as part of the academic curriculum.
According to the SEVP memo, there has been a notable increase in CPT authorizations that appear to violate regulatory requirements. The administration’s warning carries significant implications for universities, as noncompliance with SEVP standards could result in the loss of certification to enroll international students.
The new guidance has already prompted several prominent universities to temporarily halt the processing of certain CPT requests while they evaluate the implications of the latest federal directives on their international student programs. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), has confirmed that it has paused certain CPT authorizations.
A spokesperson for UCLA stated, “UCLA has paused certain Curricular Practical Training authorizations while it reviews recent federal guidance and determines next steps.” Similarly, the University of California, Berkeley, is reassessing its approach to some CPT requests. The university’s international office characterized the August 24 memo as “more narrow in focus, more direct, and includes content that is more restrictive in nature.”
Berkeley has announced that it will extend its pause on certain CPT authorizations “for the foreseeable future,” although it will continue processing applications directly tied to degree requirements. The university also plans to resume processing CPT requests related to doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis research. To ensure compliance with the administration’s latest requirements, Berkeley’s international office intends to consult legal experts as it develops new procedures.
This development follows another federal memo issued earlier in August, which added to the uncertainty faced by universities managing employment and practical training programs for large numbers of international students. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that the federal rules governing CPT remain unchanged despite the new warning. “Nothing about these regulations has changed,” DHS said in a statement. However, the department cautioned universities and employers that the Trump administration would adopt a stricter approach toward what it considers misuse of the CPT system.
“Under President Trump, abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated,” the department emphasized. For international students, this heightened scrutiny could complicate CPT approvals as universities reassess which internships and employment opportunities clearly meet the curriculum requirement. CPT is particularly vital for students seeking practical experience in the U.S. while completing their degrees, making any changes in how schools interpret or process applications closely monitored by foreign students and their prospective employers.
The latest actions come amid a broader trend of increased scrutiny of U.S. universities by the Trump administration. Investigations have been opened, and federal funding has been threatened over various issues, including campus protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, diversity programs, climate initiatives, and transgender policies. Civil rights and academic organizations have expressed concerns about the potential impact on free speech, academic freedom, and due process on college campuses.
The administration’s campaign against diversity initiatives has also extended to university admissions. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice accused the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences of employing admissions practices that favored Black and Hispanic applicants. These allegations followed a federal investigation and are part of the administration’s broader push to challenge diversity-related policies in higher education. The university has rejected these findings, stating, “We are disappointed by the DOJ’s conclusions, which we believe are incorrect,” and maintaining that its admissions practices comply with the law and are not discriminatory.
Similar allegations have been made against other universities, with the Justice Department indicating that it is seeking settlement discussions. If these discussions do not lead to an agreement, litigation may be pursued.
International students have also faced scrutiny regarding their political activities on U.S. campuses. The Trump administration has revoked the visas of some student protesters involved in demonstrations over the Israel-Gaza conflict, asserting that certain protests crossed into antisemitism or support for extremist groups. Pro-Palestinian protesters, including Jewish advocacy groups, have contested this characterization, arguing that criticism of Israel’s military actions and occupation of Palestinian territories is not inherently antisemitic and that advocating for Palestinian rights should not be equated with supporting extremist organizations.
Amid this backdrop, the new CPT warning adds another layer of federal oversight for universities with international student populations. While the administration asserts that it is enforcing existing rules rather than implementing new ones, colleges are now reevaluating their CPT procedures to determine whether their practices could expose them to federal action.
According to The American Bazaar, the implications of these developments are significant for both universities and international students as they navigate the complexities of federal regulations and the evolving landscape of higher education in the United States.