Latest Updates
- Executive Order Creates New State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention Designation. Executive Order 14348 of September 5, 2025, Strengthening Efforts To Protect U.S. Nationals From Wrongful Detention Abroad, empowers the Secretary of State to designate foreign countries as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention if they are determined to be involved in or supporting wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens and nationals. Penalties on a designated country could include economic sanctions, visa and travel restrictions, export controls, and suspension of foreign assistance. See NAFSA's page.
- DHS Proposes Significant Expansion of Data Collected on Forms I-17 and I-20. DHS is proposing revisions to Forms I-17 and I-20 that would require schools to report more detailed information on ownership, programs of study, costs, and designated school officials, and to collect new data on students’ guardians, graduation dates, funding sources, instructional modes, and employment or training activities. DHS will accept comments on the planned changes until November 3, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
Key Executive and Regulatory Actions
DHS Proposes Ending Duration of Status
Comments in response to the DHS/ICE proposed rule to end "duration of status" for F, J, and I nonimmigrants are due by September 29, 2025. NAFSA has prepared high-level guidance to assist institutions in submitting a comment letter, along with a non-technical "explainer" and an advocacy campaign to engage Congress.
Government Funding, Staffing, and Operations
The president's draft fiscal 2026 "skinny" budget proposes a 93 percent reduction in funding for State Department Educational and Cultural Exchanges, effectively dismantling the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and its programs. Urge Congress to defend and fund federal international education and exchange programs.
Vetting and Enforcement
The Department of State (DOS) announced that it finally issued the expected "new guidance" on social media vetting, and that consulates will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa appointments. It includes information on how consular officers should screen the social media and online presence of applicants applying for F, M, and J visas, and factors the consulates should consider as they resume scheduling student visa interviews
NAFSA Statements and Commentary
NAFSA Decries DHS Proposal to End D/S as a 'Gross Governmental Overreach'
NAFSA CEO, Fanta Aw said in response, "Shifting from a ‘duration of status’ policy to a fixed expiration date is a bad idea for an administration that prides itself on advancements in efficiencies and ‘America First.’ These changes will only serve to force aspiring students and scholars into a sea of administrative delays at best, and at worst, into unlawful presence status—leaving them vulnerable to punitive actions through no fault of their own."
NAFSA: U.S. Economy Could Lose $7 Billion Due to International Student Enrollment Decline
Preliminary projections by NAFSA and JB International reveal that recent actions such as visa bans and disruptions in visa interviews and processing could have a devastating effect on U.S. local economies.
NAFSA Responds to DHS Threats Against Harvard, OPT
"Revoking an institution’s ability to enroll international students and threatening to dismantle OPT are ill-conceived attacks on high-functioning systems and programs," said Fanta Aw, NAFSA CEO. "International students are not bargaining chips—they are scholars, researchers, and contributors to our communities whose presence strengthens U.S. higher education and society. We turn global talent away at our own expense."
Related Resources
2025 Policy Digest
A chronological compilation of U.S. government policy and regulatory developments and related advocacy activities, updated on a monthly basis.
Connecting Our World
Connecting Our World is NAFSA's weekly newsletter that distills the top policy and regulatory developments affecting international education and identifies how members of the field can use their voice to take action in simple but meaningful ways.
Helpful Resources
Helpful resources from NAFSA and others on initiatives under the Second Trump Administration