The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 fee for universities hosting international students in work programs, a move aimed at reducing enrollment that critics warn will stifle U.S. innovation.
The clock is ticking for American universities and the international students who occupy their classrooms. By November 9. the Department of Homeland Security will close the public comment period on a proposal that could fundamentally reshape the landscape of higher education: a $70. 000 fee for colleges hosting foreign students in work programs.
Under this new directive. universities would be required to pay $70. 000 per student for the first year of Optional Practical Training (OPT) and $30. 000 for each subsequent year. These programs currently allow graduates to work in the U.S. for one year after finishing their degrees. with those in science. technology. engineering. and mathematics (STEM) fields eligible for two additional years of experience.
The Department of Homeland Security framed the move as a necessity to combat fraud and abuse. bolster immigration system integrity. and protect domestic workers. A department spokesperson stated that the OPT program was never intended to serve as a back door to the American workforce. a source of cheap labor. or a prize for those looking to game the system.
For higher education leaders, the proposal represents a significant escalation in a long-standing tension regarding international enrollment. Fanta Aw. executive director of the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA). warned that driving away the aspirations and talents of international students will only harm American innovation. economic growth. and global leadership. Her organization maintains that research consistently shows international students act as job creators rather than competitors for U.S. workers.
This is not a localized dispute; it is part of a broader administrative strategy that has included capping international student admissions. revoking visas. and attempting to limit the duration of status for students in the U.S. Just last month. the administration signaled plans to impose a six-figure fee on H-1B visa applicants. mirroring the intent behind the new OPT proposal. Previous efforts have met resistance. including a September ruling where a federal judge blocked an attempt to limit the duration of student status.
As the public comment window remains open, the administration faces a complex path ahead. Once the November deadline passes, the department must respond to public feedback as part of the federal rulemaking process. For universities already struggling with the financial implications of declining enrollment. and for tech companies reliant on international talent. the coming weeks represent a critical juncture in the fight over who gets to work. stay. and innovate in the United States.
international students OPT program Trump administration university enrollment U.S. immigration higher education NAFSA