Overview
- An unpublished DHS proposal flagged on the OIRA site would heavily modify Optional Practical Training for F‑1 students, with Newsweek reporting publication could come before year-end or in early 2026.
- The notice says the rule aims to better align practical training with program goals, address fraud and national security concerns, and expand SEVP oversight.
- Newsweek reports the changes could limit or end post‑graduation work pathways, reflecting stated concerns about displacement of U.S. workers, particularly in tech.
- Advocates warn cuts would weaken U.S. competitiveness and innovation, citing nearly 290,000 OPT participants, a 54% year‑over‑year rise in STEM OPT, and $43.8 billion in recent international student economic contributions.
- Critics argue OPT lacks explicit congressional authorization and that post‑graduation work conflicts with F‑1 status, while FY2024 data cited by Newsweek shows just under 110,000 student visa holders on U.S. payrolls.