Dear Erica,
Greetings to you on this day, the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. On this somber occasion, I am pleased to share inspiring testimony that speaks to the heights we can achieve when U.S. policy and its posture remain open to the world. The transcript from the September 3 hearing in our court case against the final rule to end Duration of Status (D/S) and impose new academic restrictions is now available. You’ll see that our attorney, Paul Hughes, conveys the merits of attracting and retaining international students in this country and the immediate harm that will result from driving them away (I barely resisted standing up and applauding in the courtroom!).
We await the court’s decision, which we expect before the September 15 effective date. Stay tuned to NAFSA’s social media channels and our litigation page for updates.
Congressional opposition to ending Duration of Status is heating up! Democratic leaders in the Senate (Richard Durbin of Illinois, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Alex Padilla of California and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island) and in the House of Representatives, including Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), and Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), are leading an effort to repeal the final rule using the Congressional Review Act. The deadline to gain original sponsors for this effort is soon: Monday, September 14 but there will be additional ways for your representative to be helpful going forward so don’t hold back! See below for a quick way to urge your representative to get onboard! (CAVEAT: if your representative is not a likely candidate for this ask, our system will not allow you to send a message).
In other news, there is growing evidence that harmful U.S. policy and regulation is having a negative impact on international enrollment. A recent survey from the Council of Graduate Schools reveals declines in applications from prospective international students for Fall 2026 compared with Fall 2025 for both doctoral and master’s programs, and a decline in offers of admission at both levels. A Pulse Point survey of senior leaders at U.S. higher education institutions conducted by the American Council on Education shows that “the decline in international student enrollment has had a tangible fiscal impact on campuses, with nearly three-fourths (73 percent) of presidents reporting they had experienced a decrease in revenues due to the decline.”
Which is all the more reason to keep your letters to Congress coming!
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Thank you for reading.
Best,
Erica
Erica Stewart
Senior Director, Advocacy & Strategic Communications
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
