Several California universities have paused international students’ applications to pursue off-campus internships after the federal government issued guidance last month urging enhanced scrutiny of these work authorizations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security in August narrowed the scope of employment that international students can pursue during their programs and directed schools to ensure compliance.

It’s the most recent in a series of policy changes enacted by the Trump administration to restrict visas and the length of stay for foreign students — moves that experts warn will likely drive down enrollment of these student groups nationwide. In California, international students represent about 7% of the state’s total four-year college and university enrollment and contribute not just diverse perspectives and critical skills but also higher tuition to the state’s postsecondary institutions, the Public Policy Institute of California noted.

As part of the new guidance message, DHS threatened universities with legal consequences — including the revocation of their permission to enroll international students.

“This is the first step towards eliminating CPT (internships for foreign students) and making it so difficult that students simply will not come to the United States,” said Charles Kuck, a prominent Atlanta-based immigration attorney and former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “That is the plan of this administration.”

DHS said it had observed a rise in authorizations for curricular practical training that do not meet regulatory requirements. As a result, it would be increasing its scrutiny of those approvals, it said.

How are CA schools reacting to Trump CPT guidance? | Sacramento Bee