Judge Blocks Controversial International Student Restrictions - Inside Higher Ed
A federal judge in Boston has blocked Trump administration rules that would limit foreign students and journalists to 12‑month visas, citing likely statutory overreach and due‑process violations. The injunction preserves current visa practices while the courts evaluate the broader implications for U.S. immigration policy.
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A federal judge in Boston has blocked Trump administration rules that would limit foreign students and journalists to 12‑month visas, citing likely statutory overreach and due‑process violations. The injunction preserves current visa practices while the courts evaluate the broader implications for U.S. immigration policy.
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**Judge Blocks Controversial International Student Restrictions**
A federal judge in Boston has issued a preliminary injunction that halts the Trump administration’s newly issued regulations curtailing the length of stay for foreign students and journalists on U.S. visas. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs found that the rules— which would have capped the duration of F‑1 student visas and J‑1 journalist visas at 12 months and required annual renewals— likely exceed the Department of State’s statutory authority and raise serious due‑process concerns. The decision, announced on Monday, stops the rules from taking effect while the courts consider the administration’s full challenge.
The contested regulations were part of a broader “America First” immigration agenda that sought to tighten the United States’ visa program for non‑citizens. Under the rule, students enrolled in certain graduate and professional programs would have been forced to leave the country after a year unless they secured a new visa, and foreign journalists would have faced the same 12‑month ceiling. Plaintiffs, a coalition of universities, student‑rights groups and media organizations, argued that the policy would disrupt academic continuity, jeopardize research collaborations, and chill press freedom, asserting that the administration failed to provide adequate justification or a transparent adjudication process.
The Department of State said it will appeal the injunction, arguing that the measures are necessary to protect national security and ensure that visa holders do not become a burden on public resources. Higher‑education leaders and press freedom advocates hailed the ruling as a victory for both the academic community and independent journalism, warning that the restrictions would have imposed “unnecessary hardship” on thousands of students and reporters. The case now moves to a full hearing, with the potential to shape U.S. immigration policy for years to come.
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