Dear Unnamed,
It has been a tough week. We are heartbroken for all affected by the deadly attacks that claimed the lives of 15 people at Bondi Beach in Australia, two Brown University students, and one M.I.T professor—and wounded several others.
Adding insult to injury, on December 16, the White House took the long-anticipation action of expanding the June 4 travel ban. Per a December 16 proclamation, a full travel ban now applies to five more countries and partial bans were added to 15 additional countries, effective January 1, 2026. International students and exchange visitors continue to be impacted by both full and partial bans. Existing visa holders are exempted. My regulatory practice colleague, David Fosnocht has created a resource page with a helpful table to keep straight the countries that continue to be affected, or are newly affected.
We quickly issued a statement in response, which was carried by a variety of outlets, including Inside Higher Ed, the Boston Business Journal, and ICEF Monitor.
The media continue to tell the story of international student enrollment on a localized level, including stories in Indiana, eastern Michigan, and Kentucky while a Washington Post op-ed by Boston College professor, Chris Glass reinforces the point you’ve heard us make before: “our global rivals pick off the best and the brightest that we have trained but can’t retain—unless we change our visa system” and “our talent policy assumes that top researchers will endure any visa lottery or processing to stay in the U.S. That assumption is obsolete.” He lays out ideas for modernizing the visa system to better attract and retain the world’s best and brightest while affirming that “the choice isn’t between domestic and foreign talent: the nation was built on both.”
Meanwhile, oral arguments begin today in the case that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Universities filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. against the administration’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee. The plaintiffs disagree with the Justice Department’s assertion that the president has unlimited authority to impose that fee. Learn more in this Forbes story by Stuart Anderson. A twenty-state coalition has also filed a lawsuit challenging the fee in a Massachusetts federal court.
Well. We made it. The end of 2025 is in sight! This newsletter will be on holiday until January 9, if you can believe it. But rest assured, we are keeping a close eye on any developments regarding Optional Practical Training and the anticipated publication of the Final Rule affecting Duration of Status (D/S). Watch our social media accounts and the NAFSA Current Administration page for updates. As I shared last week, NAFSA is exploring all options to preserve D/S and will share how your institution or organization can assist with those efforts in the future.
We did some good work this year. In the face of a dizzying array of challenges facing our field, we kept our heads and we kept at it. Let’s agree to rest and come back refreshed in the New Year.
All my best for a joy-filled and peaceful holiday season.
Erica
Erica Stewart
Senior Director, Advocacy & Strategic Communications
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
