Dear Unnamed,
As I shared last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule that would end “duration of status” (D/S) and make other detrimental changes to the international student and exchange visitor experience in the United States. NAFSA staff have digested the enormous rule and a detailed analysis is available at nafsa.org/dsproposal2025. We have also prepared a non-technical Duration of Status “explainer” which can be easily shared to bring your colleagues and leaders up to speed on the concept, the value of it, and the arguments for retaining it. Comment letters will be essential! NAFSA is working hard on its association letter now, and next week we will share guidance to assist institutions in preparing their own comment letters. We will keep you posted!
DHS also published the Spring 2025 Regulatory Agenda on September 4. The agenda confirms our concern that practical training rulemaking is a priority for this administration. It also reveals that DHS plans to update regulations on the extension, reinstatement, and correction of SEVIS records affecting J-1 exchange visitors. This rule first appeared in the regulatory agenda in 2021 but was never published. Changes to employment-based initiatives, such as reforming the H-1B classification, are also on the docket. Visit NAFSA’s page for details.
Meanwhile, we continue to see strong media coverage of the many barriers facing international students who wish to follow their dreams to the United States and how the U.S. economy and society benefit greatly from their contributions. NAFSA CEO, Dr. Fanta Aw spoke with host Marco Werman of The World, a public radio program that reaches millions of listeners in the United States and beyond each week.
Other stories that carried NAFSA messaging recently include:
Robust local media coverage is evident in this Bridge Michigan
story, Michigan May Lose Millions as Universities See Drop in International Students (quoting NAFSA's Rachel Banks) and an editorial by the
Buffalo News, International Student Roadblocks Stifle Talent and Hurt Revenue, which cites NAFSA data.
The court system delivered some good news this week! On September 3, the U.S. District Court in Boston ruled that the administration’s actions against Harvard University—including freezing and canceling more than $2 billion in research grants—violated the First Amendment, Title VI, and the Administrative Procedure Act. This is especially gratifying as NAFSA joined ACE and 26 other higher education associations in submitting an amicus brief in support of the case. See NAFSA’s website for more information.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Review and share with your colleagues the Duration of Status resources, including the D/S Explainer in anticipation of preparing a comment letter. (More to come next week).
Urge your member of Congress to demand that international education programs at the Department of State and the Department of Education receive their FY25 funding as approved by Congress (note there are separate campaigns for each agency—be sure to click on both links!).
Thanks for all you do!
Best,
Erica
Erica Stewart
Senior Director, Advocacy & Strategic Communications
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
