Latest Updates
- DHS Sends Proposed Rule to OMB on Elimination of Duration of Status. June 27, 2025. On the afternoon of June 27, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security-US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS/ICE) submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review a proposed rule to end "duration of status" (D/S). The "good" news is that it was submitted as a proposed rule, rather than interim final or final rule. We don’t know how similar this will be to the 2020 Trump 1.0 proposed rule of the same title that had been withdrawn under the Biden administration, but it is likely to share many similarities. See NAFSA's page that tracks the status of the new proposal and for background and some resources from the 2020 proposed rule.
- DOS Issues F, M, J Visa Applicant Social Media Vetting Cable, Authorizes Resumption of Visa Appointment Scheduling. June 18, 2025. 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. Media outlets began reporting that they had obtained a copy of the cable sent to consular offices containing the anticipated directives 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. See NAFSA's updated page.
- Tell NAFSA About the Impact the Visa Appointment Suspension is Having on Your Institution. Complete a survey accessible through NAFSA IssueNet to help NAFSA gather information on how the suspension in new student/exchange visitor visa appointment availability is affecting international enrollment, planning, and operations. You will be asked to provide estimated numbers of visa documents issued, enrollment, etc. Submissions are anonymous. NAFSA will not share specific details gathered but will use the information collected to describe broadly what is occurring and identify patterns and trends. Please designate one individual from your institution to report cases to avoid duplicate reporting.
- Possible Expansion of Travel Ban. On June 14, 2025 news outlets began reporting that an internal Department of State memo indicates that 36 more countries will be given 60 days to meet the Trump administration's benchmarks and requirements or face either a partial or full entry ban. See NAFSA's page.
- TRO Blocks Implementation of Presidential Proclamation Proclamation on New F, M, J Students at Harvard University. June 4, 2025. On June 4, 2025 President Trump issued a proclamation "to restrict the entry of foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States solely or principally to participate in a course of study at Harvard University or in an exchange visitor program hosted by Harvard University." A White House Fact Sheet says that this "suspends the entry into the United States of any new Harvard student as a nonimmigrant under F, M, or J visas." Implementation of the proclamation is currently blocked by a temporary restraining order issued on June 5, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
- Presidential Proclamation Orders Travel Bans on 19 Countries. June 4, 2025. Presidential Proclamation of June 4, 2025: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats establishes a "full" travel ban on 12 countries and a "partial" travel ban on 7 countries, effective 12:01 am eastern daylight time on June 9, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
- Five Key Points Related to the Administration’s Recent Actions Against International Students. May 29, 2025. The Trump administration’s assault on international education continues, sowing chaos and confusion. Here are some key points for international educators to keep in mind amid the uncertainty and rapidly unfolding developments.
- Rubio Plan to "Aggressively Revoke" Visas of Chinese Students with "Connections to the Chinese Communist Party or Studying in Critical Fields." May 28, 2025. In a brief press statement titled New Visa Policies Put America First, Not China Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the "U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong." No other details were included in the statement. See NAFSA's Focus on China and Chinese Students and Scholars page.
Key Executive and Regulatory Actions
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.
Antisemitism Related
An April 9 DHS news release says that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services "will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. This guidance is effective immediately."
Vetting and Enforcement
DHS posted a copy of a Notice of Intent to Withdraw (NOIW) that it sent to Harvard, dated May 28, 2025 and signed by Todd Lyons, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under DHS regulations the issuance of a NOIW begins formal proceedings that could lead to a withdrawal on notice of Harvard's SEVIS certification.
NAFSA Statements and Commentary
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."
NAFSA Responds to Pause of International Student Visa Interviews
NAFSA executive director and CEO, Fanta Aw, calls pause of international student visa Interviews misguided and self-defeating and urges the administration to reverse this course and uphold a policy environment that reflects our national interest.
NAFSA Urges Restoration of Student Visa Appointments
On May 30, NAFSA joined a letter led by the American Council on Education to the Department of State Secretary Marco Rubio expressing deep concern about the pause in student visa interviews and plans to revoke the visas for some Chinese students.
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