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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Many international students hope to launch careers in the US. Their pathways may dim under Trump
WASHINGTON — Since coming from China as a teenager for boarding school, Bob Zeng has imagined building a career in the United States. But as he prepared to graduate Thursday from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it felt like the last chapter of his life in America. Zeng said he has been rethinking his plans because of the Trump administration's pledge to aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese students. Having completed a masters degree in science and management, he is thinking about moving to Europe. Or going home to China. 'I am worried about working here,' said Zeng, 30. 'You never know what's going to happen.' Many international students come to the U.S. with hopes of gaining work experience and returning to their home countries or pursuing a career in the U.S. But the administration's intensifying scrutiny of international students — and signs that formal career pathways for them may be closed — are leading some to reconsider their plans. Beyond the steps the administration already has taken — expanding the grounds for terminating students' ability to study in the U.S., adding new vetting for student visas, moving to block foreign enrollment at Harvard — a key nominee has raised the possibility of ending a program that encourages international students to stay and gain work experience. About 240,000 of the 1.1 million people on student visas in the U.S. are on Optional Practical Training — a one-year post-graduation period where they are authorized to work in fields related to their degrees. It can last up to three years for graduates in science, math and technology fields. President Donald Trump's nominee for director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, said during his confirmation hearing on May 21 that he would like to see an end to post-graduate work authorization for international students. 'What I want to see would be essentially a regulatory and sub-regulatory program that would allow us to remove the ability for employment authorizations for F-1 students beyond the time that they are in school,' said Edlow, referring to the F-1 visas on which most international students attend college in the U.S. The opportunity to gain career experience at U.S. companies, especially in technology and other fields where American companies dominate, has long been a draw of studying here. Many enter the H-1B visa lottery, hoping to be selected for one of the employer-sponsored visas that offer a pathway to permanent residency in the United States. Threatening practical training opportunities would have long-term consequences for the U.S. in attracting international students, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, which represents international educators. 'We turn global talent away at our own expense,' Aw said. Like many international students, Marko, 29, finds himself glued to the news with a growing sense of alarm. His Optional Practical Training expires in a month, and he has applied for an extension but hasn't heard back, leaving him in limbo. Lawyers for the tech company where he works in New York City advised him to carry proof of his legal status in his wallet, which he finds 'dehumanizing.' 'The message being sent now is that: You are not one of us, and we are going to get rid of you,' said Marko, who asked that only his first name be used because he is worried about being targeted for removal from the country. He has lived in the U.S. for a decade spanning college and graduate school, but his family and friends back home have encouraged him to leave. His hope is that he gets the OPT extension and can then apply for an H-1B visa and continue his life in the U.S., but he also worries about anti-immigrant sentiment and who will be targeted next. In his first administration, Trump floated the idea of curtailing OPT, but that did not materialize. During the campaign, he suggested he would give green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges, a sentiment that students and educators hoped would signal more welcoming policies for international talent. But since taking office his administration has cracked down on international students in several ways. In April, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began terminating the legal status of people with student visas who appeared in a database of police encounters. Many caught up in that effort were on OPT, and had to leave their jobs or risk violating laws about working without legal authorization. ICE eventually restored students' status after widespread legal challenges, but not before some chose to leave the country pre-emptively, fearing deportation. In mid-May, some recent graduates received letters threatening to terminate their status if they did not update their employment records. While the letters gave them an opportunity to fix any reporting issues, it sent another wave of uncertainty through international graduates. This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the government would move to revoke visas of Chinese students with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in 'critical' fields. Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang, a Chinese student who graduated Thursday from Harvard University, said in an interview that she had hoped to stay in the U.S. for a few years but she has been unsettled by the Trump administration's crackdown on visas. "In terms of the plan going forward, I would say everything is up in the air at this point,' said Jiang, who is now open to going anywhere in the world to work in international development. 'At this point, it's difficult to say what will happen.' Gecker reported from San Francisco. Toness and Associated Press writer Michael Casey contributed from Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. is solely responsible for all content. Find 's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .org.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Morning News Wrap: OPT students in US face deportation; SpaceX's Starship spirals in orbit, and more
. OPT students in the US are facing fresh deportation fears as ICE issues warnings over missing job data. SpaceX's Starship hit orbit but suffered a fuel leak, losing control before completing its mission. Actor Kamal Haasan's claim that 'Tamil gave birth to Kannada' has stirred political backlash in Karnataka. Donald Trump offered to include Canada in his missile defence system for free—if it becomes the 51st US state. On the sports front, RCB secured a playoff spot and will meet Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1. OPT s tudents in US face deportation threat over employment data lapse International students across the US are facing another unprecedented wave of enforcement. many students who are undergoing post-graduation Optional Practical Training (OPT) are receiving letters from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) threatening termination of their SEVIS records and potential deportation. Read full story Watch: SpaceX's Starship spirals uncontrollably as fuel leaks in dramatic footage After the last two test flights ended prematurely with the destruction of the aircraft, Tuesday's Starship successfully reached orbit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo However, the spacecraft failed to fully open its payload bay door, blocking the planned release of simulated Starlink satellites. Around 30 minutes into the mission, SpaceX confirmed a fuel tank leak aboard the vehicle. Read full story 'Tamil gave birth to Kannada': Kamal Hassan remarks triggers massive row Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra on Tuesday accused actor Kamal Haasan of 'disrespecting' Kannada in his effort to glorify his own mother tongue. Vijayendra was responding to Kamal Haasan's recent observation that 'Tamil gave birth to Kannada,' made during the audio launch of his latest film, Thug Life, in Chennai a few days ago. Read full story Donald Trump offers 'Golden Dome' to Canada for free, but only if it becomes 'cherished 51st US state' US president Donald Trump said that Canada could be included in his proposed "Golden Dome" missile defence system at "zero cost" if it agrees to become the "cherished 51st state" of the United States or pay $61 billion to take part in the project. Read full story Royal Challengers Bengaluru to face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 after beating Lucknow Super Giants Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a clinical chase in their final league stage match of IPL 2025, overhauling a massive 228-run target set by Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium. The victory not only confirmed RCB's top-two finish on the points table but also made them the first-ever team to win all their away games in a single IPL season. Read full story
Axios
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Florida students' visas revoked amid Trump immigration crackdown
Federal immigration authorities have revoked the visas of at least two dozen international students from Florida universities. Why it matters: The Trump administration has expanded efforts to revoke student visas nationwide — often without immediate explanation — leaving many students scrambling and fearful. The big picture: Nationally, more than 1,000 students have had their visas revoked, per Inside Higher Ed. The administration has claimed some lost their status because they were affiliated with pro-Palestinian protests. For others, revocation was attributed to a crime or traffic offense or reasons unknown, Axios' Avery Lotz reported. State of play: As of Monday morning, at least 26 student visas had been revoked across the state — 18 from Florida International University and eight from the University of Florida, according to Inside Higher Ed, which is tracking the revocations. At FIU, 11 were current students, while seven were recent graduates on Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows students with F-1 status to receive training, the Miami New Times reported. Reality check: But the number of students affected could be far greater, with the burden falling to universities to track changes and inform those impacted. Case in point: The University of South Florida in Tampa told Axios the university is aware some students "have experienced a change in their visa status," but declined to provide a number when asked. Changes to students' visas could be made by the federal government "without notice or explanation" to the university, a spokesperson said. The latest: At least three public universities — UF, USF and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton — are seeking partnerships with federal authorities to carry out immigration enforcement on campuses, the Associated Press reported.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More foreign students in Michigan targeted for deportation
More foreign students in Michigan are being forced to leave the country as part of a Trump administration crackdown on student visas. At the University of Michigan, a total of 22 people have now been notified they must leave. Michigan State University said the number of its students being targeted remained small and a precise figure was unavailable because notifications are sent directly to the students, spokeswoman Amber McCann said in an email. Central Michigan University students also are being targeted. "Our number is 7 students: 3 who are currently enrolled in classes and 4 who have graduated and are completing OPT (Optional Practical Training)," spokesman Aaron Mills told the Free Press in an email. The Free Press reported this week that four U-M students were forced to leave with little notice and almost no chance to contest the decision. More: Department of Homeland Security revokes 4 U-M student visas; at least 1 flees US More: Deportation crackdown targets foreign college students in Michigan Immigration lawyer Bradley Maze spoke to three students being targeted. He told the Free Press the government appears to be scanning law enforcement databases for the names of foreign students with even minor offenses, and then terminating their status and revoking their visas. For privacy reasons, the schools don't release the names of the students. The Department of State, which issues visas and the Department of Homeland Security, which monitors the SEVIS system, don't either. University of Michigan leaders notified students faculty and staff of the increased number in an email today. "In all, 22 people affiliated with U-M have now received notice that they must leave the country, including 10 recent graduates," President Santa Ono wrote in the email, which he signed along with three other top school leaders. "The federal government has not shared details on the specific reasons for these visa revocations or SEVIS record terminations. Please know the university has not provided lists or other identifying information to federal immigration or law-enforcement authorities relating to these students and graduates." Ono said that U-M has 7,704 enrolled international students and another 2,497 who stay after graduation for additional training. A 2022 report by Global Detroit said that there were about 27,500 international students enrolled at Michigan colleges and universities in the 2020-21 school year, the ninth largest international student population in the country. They generate about $829 million in economic activity for Michigan, according to the report. Ono said the university was not aware of any federal law enforcement activity on campus. "We understand the anxiety and alarm these events have caused and we are working to better understand how these government actions might impact our community going forward," he wrote. Many foreign students often come to Michigan universities to study sciences, said Tyler Theile, vice president and director of public policy at the Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing. "If you look at the higher degree fields, Ph.D.s, those getting the highest level of degrees in STEM fields who are contributing to research and innovate innovation in Michigan and in other states as well, it includes a really important and significant portion of international students," she said. She said international students are an economic plus for Michigan because they are highly skilled young people, a group of people the state is struggling to attract and retain. "It would just be incredibly unfortunate to lose the kind we are retaining," she said. Free Press staff writers Niraj Warikoo and Liam Rappleye contributed to this report. Contact John Wisely: jwisely@ On X: @jwisely This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: More foreign students targeted for deportation
