NAFSA released its policy priorities and published a new web page that will serve as a go-to resource for all things related to the Trump administration. The page provides updates on presidential nominations, executive actions, and agency initiatives—and includes expert analysis, information on NAFSA's policy recommendations, and advocacy tools to support the field.
On January 20, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum, “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review”
On January 20, 2025 DHS rescinded a 2021 guidance memo that had required DHS officers and agents to seek headquarters approval before taking an enforcement action in sensitive areas like schools and colleges, hospitals or churches.
On January 20, President Trump issued Executive Order 14169, “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid” mandating a 90-day pause on new foreign development assistance obligations and disbursements of funds.
On January 20, President Trump issued Executive Order 14160, “Protecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship” to alter birthright citizenship.
On January 20, President Trump issued Executive Order 14165, “Securing Our Borders” directing a comprehensive effort to secure the U.S. southern border.
On January 20, President Trump issued Executive Order 14161, “Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats” directing federal agencies to enhance immigration screening and vetting procedures.
On January 20, President Trump issued Executive Order 14168, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government”.
On January 22, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Fanta Aw and NAFSA Board of Directors President Ahmad Ezzeddine hosted a LinkedIn Live conversation "Charting the Course for a New Political Environment”. During the event, Aw and Ezzeddine emphasized managing uncertainty through thoughtful planning and staying informed via NAFSA's new online hub that tracks developments related to the current administration. NAFSA policy experts Jill Allen Murray and Rachel Banks also outlined and provided initial reactions to recent executive orders.
On January 23, 2025, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman signed a "Finding of Mass Influx of Aliens,"which activates enhanced federal authority and resources and presses for state and local cooperation.
On January 27, the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum that ordered federal agencies to temporarily pause disbursement of grants and loans while conducting a review to ensure programs align with the Trump administration's policies. The administration rescinded the memorandum on January 29, in the face of legal challenges and mounting criticism over funding disruptions.
In a January 28 blog post, NAFSA staff members Joann Ng Hartmann and Jill Allen Murray responded to an opinion piece in Inside Higher Ed that raised concerns about alleged misuse of the U.S. student visa system. Their response provided a fact-based analysis of student visa overstay statistics, detailed existing safeguards in the U.S. international student system, and addressed specific claims about Curricular Practical Training and student transfers, while highlighting NAFSA's ongoing work to strengthen visa system integrity.
On January 29, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law.
On January 29, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14188 titled Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism.
February 2025
On February 3, NAFSA joined the American Council on Education and 29 other higher education associations in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, congratulating him on his recent confirmation and addressing key priorities for higher education. The organizations emphasized concerns about visa processing delays and denials that could discourage international students from choosing U.S. institutions and reiterated U.S. higher education's commitment to collaborating on national security concerns while protecting beneficial global academic exchange.
On February 7, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) imposed a 15% cap on the "indirect cost" rate for all NIH grants.
On February 11, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order titled Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Workforce Optimization Initiative.
On February 12, President Trump issued Executive Order 14211 “One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations” which contains sweeping reforms to the U.S. foreign service, meant to align U.S. foreign relations with the administration’s “America First Policy Directive and drastically reduce its workforce.”
On February 13, NAFSA staff members David Fosnocht and Steve Springer hosted a webinar discussing student and scholar advising and the new presidential administration. Topics included the tools a presidential administration can use to effect change, actions and initiatives from the prior Trump administration that may be revived, and steps international educators can take to avoid problems.
On February 14, 2025, the Department of Education (DoEd) issued a "Dear Colleague Letter" that "provides notice of the Department's existing interpretation of federal law" on the prohibition on "using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life."
In a February 18, 2025 Interview Waiver Update the Department of State announced changes to its policies on eligibility for waivers of the in-person visa interview requirement. The update rescinds prior expansions of interview waiver authority, for example, reinstating the statutory 12-month post-expiration period for applicants who previously held a visa in the same category.
On February 18, President Trump issued Executive Order 14215, “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies” which injects the President and the Department of Justice/Attorney General directly into the regulatory and interpretive processes of all agencies.
On February 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) asserted the agency’s commitment to protecting American workers from national origin discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and warned employers, staffing agencies, and other entities against engaging in illegal hiring preferences that disadvantage American workers, stating that those contributing to the immigration crisis or abusing legal immigration programs must comply with the law.
On February 25, NAFSA joined the American Council on Education and more than 60 other associations in a letter to the Department of Education in response to the department's February 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL). The ACE letter asks the Department to "rescind this DCL and work to promulgate guidance that reflects existing law."
On February 25, USCIS issued new guidance requiring young nonimmigrants who turn 14 while in the U.S. to "re-register" with USCIS within 30 days of their birthday, even if previously registered when entering the country.
On February 26, President Trump issued Executive Order 14222, “Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Cost Efficiency Initiative” which targets "discretionary spending through Federal contracts, grants, loans, and related instruments," including "non-essential" travel to conferences and other purposes.
On February 28, DOJ announced that the "Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism" will be visiting 10 university campuses that have "experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023."
March 2025
On March 1, President Trump issued an Executive Order “Designating English as the Official Language of The United States.”
On March 3, NAFSA, along with the Alliance for International Exchange and the Forum on Education Abroad issued a statement urging Congress to intervene and restore funding for State Department grant programs. Although the temporary pause in funding was set to expire on February 27, the State Department has taken no action to lift the freeze. NAFSA also launched an advocacy campaign urging Congress to restore funding for these programs immediately.
On March 3, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Fanta Aw, Simon Emmett of IDP Education, and NAFSA policy experts Rachel Banks, Joann Ng Hartman, and Caroline Donovan White hosted a LinkedIn Live conversation titled “40 Days into the New Administration in the US.” The panel examined the current status of Executive Orders affecting international education, explored NAFSA's strategic focus and approaches to these challenges, and shared diverse perspectives from practitioners in the field.
On March 11, the Trump administration fired the entire staff of the International and Foreign Language Education office, part of a move that reduced DOE’s workforce by half. This drastic action raises many red flags, not the least of which is the viability of Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs, including the National Resource Centers, Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), and Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships.
On March 14, a Federal Register notice announced a broad new determination from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This determination declares that all federal efforts related to border control, immigration, and cross-border transactions fall under the foreign affairs function exemption of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 553, 554. This means that the Department of Homeland Security and any other agency involved in the immigration process can issue regulations without first publishing a proposed rule or accepting any public comment.
On March 20, President Trump issued Executive Order 12424 “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities” which directs the Secretary of Education to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education" and to ensure that the allocation of any Federal Department of Education funds not support "'diversity, equity, and inclusion' or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology."
On March 21, news outlets reported that DHS had implemented a "reduction in force" affecting over 100 employees across three oversight offices, including the CIS Ombudsman's Office.
On March 25, DHS published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the termination of the humanitarian parole programs for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, which were launched under the Biden administration to allow certain nationals and their family members to travel to and seek discretionary parole at U.S. ports of entry.
In a March 31 press release, NAFSA addressed the recent reports on detention of international students and scholars, visa revocations, and the termination of SEVIS records, saying that the "government’s recent actions have created an atmosphere of fear and confusion that has students, scholars, and their families understandably concerned about their safety and future in the United States. These actions also undermine what makes U.S. higher education so special: well-resourced, cutting-edge research opportunities; academic freedom; and free speech."
April 2025
On April 2, NAFSA led a full day of in-person meetings on Capitol Hill to convey the message that Congress plays a vital role in protecting and funding international education programs and advancing policies integral to U.S. global competitiveness, national security, and workforce development. Nearly 150 attendees from 37 states and Canada participated in 105 meetings.
On April 3, NAFSA hosted a members-only webinar "Legal Challenges Facing International Students and Scholars and Higher Education's Duty of Care"
On April 4, NAFSA, the American Council on Education, and 14 other higher education associations urged the U.S. secretaries of State and Homeland Security to provide more information on policy and actions by the Department of State (DOS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding visa revocations, Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record terminations, and the detention and removal of international students and scholars. The letter expresses concern over limited communication with institutions and requests a briefing to clarify recent measures, including enhanced social media vetting, as well as how institutions can collaborate with DOS and DHS on national security.
On April 5, DOS announced plans to revoke South Sudanese visas.
On April 10, NAFSA released an analysis of reports from the field that documented a distressing and unprecedented wave of visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations that jeopardize the legal status of nearly 1,300 international students and scholars. There is no clear pattern by nationality, level of study, institution type, or location. The U.S. for Success Coalition, of which NAFSA is a founding member, called on Congress to intervene in these revocations and terminations.
On April 16, the U.S. for Success Coalition sent a letter to congressional leaders expressing concerns about recent actions and policies that have created barriers for international students and scholars seeking to further their education in the United States. The letter details the overwhelmingly positive ways in which international students make our nation safer, stronger, and more prosperous, and urges Congress to communicate to Secretaries Rubio and Noem that it should be a national priority to welcome international students and scholars to study and succeed here.
On April 17, NAFSA hosted a members-only webinar featuring immigration experts Brad Banias (Banias Law, LLC) and Bernard Wolfsdorf (Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP), to discuss effective legal responses to recent visa revocations and SEVIS terminations affecting students with criminal arrests; and how attorneys are successfully challenging these actions through temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions in federal court and how affected students and scholars can seek case evaluations to protect their status.
On April 19, a federal judge in Georgia ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the legal status of 133 international students whose Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records were terminated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and DHS. U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Calvert ruled that the government must restore the students' records in SEVIS retroactive to March 31, 2025. The lawsuit, filed by the students, represented by the law firm Kuck Baxter LLC, alleged that the affected students—many of whom are in good academic standing—had their statuses terminated without prior notice or opportunity to respond. The judge found that the terminations likely exceeded legal authority and violated due process protections.
In an April 22 press statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced "a comprehensive reorganization plan" for the Department of State. Rubio says in the statement that the reorganization will be "from the ground up, from the bureaus to the embassies. Region-specific functions will be consolidated to increase functionality, redundant offices will be removed, and non-statutory programs that are misaligned with America’s core national interests will cease to exist."
On April 23, President Trump signed the following executive orders relevant to higher education:
Executive Order 14279, "Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education"which directs the Department of Education to reform the higher education accreditation system by holding accrediting bodies accountable for focusing on academic quality and student outcomes rather than DEI initiatives, while prohibiting accreditation standards that could lead to unlawful discrimination as understood by the Trump-Vance administration. The order calls for increased competition among accreditors, streamlined processes for institutions to change accreditors, and mandates that institutions use program-level student outcome data for improvement, with potential consequences for accreditors of law and medical schools whose standards are deemed in violation of federal law.
Executive Order 14282, "Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities" which reinstates and tightens enforcement of higher education institutions' obligation to disclose foreign funding sources under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. The Department of Education will require more specific reporting details, increase public access to this information, and coordinate with the Attorney General to audit institutions, with potential consequences including ineligibility for federal grant funding.
Executive Order 14283, "White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities." whichestablishes a White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) housed in the Executive Office of the President and creates a President's Board of Advisors to enhance HBCU capabilities through private-sector partnerships, philanthropic support, and federal coordination. Higher education institutions classified as HBCUs can expect increased focus on institutional planning, infrastructure upgrades, professional development opportunities, and implementation of the HBCU PARTNERS Act, with an annual White House Summit to address related matters.
Starting on or around April 24, NAFSA has been seeing reports from DSOs and attorneys of SEVIS records that had been terminated by DHS being restored to Active SEVIS status. Politico reports that the Department of Justice announced that all of the recent SEVIS terminations would be reversed.
During federal court proceedings on April 25, lawyers for the U.S. Department of Justice said that the Trump administration would temporarily restore the previously terminated Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records of some international students in the United States while the administration develops a new framework for potential future terminations.
On April 25, three members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation—Sen. Edward J. Markey, Rep. Jim McGovern, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley—published an opinion piece in The New York Times expressing concern after visiting detained Tufts University graduate student Rümeysa Ozturk, who was was apprehended on a public street in Somerville and subsequently transferred to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. In the piece, the lawmakers highlight Öztürk's case as an example of the broader concerns about freedom of speech and the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions targeting international students.
On April 25, DOS restored and reconfigured its webpage, which had been dormant since January 7, that provides estimates of visa appointment wait times. Changes include referencing “next available appointment” rather than “wait time” for F, M, and J visas, and calculating the wait time in months, rather than days. For the “Interview Required (F,M,J)” column, DOS confirmed that the “N/A” notation indicates a post does not provide that service.
On April 28, as a part of federal court proceedings, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) introduced a new internal policy on SEVIS record terminations. If formally enacted, the policy would significantly expand ICE's authority to terminate international students' SEVIS records. The policy outlines two new justifications for terminations: "Evidence of a Failure to Comply with the Terms of Nonimmigrant Status" and "U.S. Department of State Visa Revocation."
On April 28, 35 senators joined U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons seeking clarity on the number and nature of SEVIS record terminations and visa revocations—and to request the release of the new guidance that is driving these actions. The senators also urged the reversal of actions that unlawfully end student status and requested detailed information on recent policy changes.
On April 30, Intead, in partnership with NAFSA released a report that speaks to the contributions of international students to the U.S. economy and workforce after graduation—especially in critical STEM fields.
May 2025
On May 2, President Trump released a draft so-called “skinny” budget for fiscal year 2026 today and it proposes cutting funding for State Department Educational and Cultural Exchanges by 93 percent. The proposal would reduce the current $741 million budget to just $50 million, effectively dismantling the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and its programs.
On May 2, NAFSA CEO Fanta Aw hosted a LinkedIn Live session "IE30 Update: SEVIS Terminations and Restoration". She was joined by attorneys from NAFSA and AILA (the American Immigration Lawyers Association) for a discussion of SEVIS record terminations and reactivations, key considerations, and recent visa revocation developments and impacting summer travel. Prior to the session, NAFSA released some key takeaways and a more in-depth analysis on the legal situation for international students and scholars who have had their student visas revoked and/or their SEVIS records terminated.
On May 5, Inside Higher Edreported that immigration attorneys filed the first court challenge to student visa revocations; previous litigation has focused on SEVIS record terminations.
On May 6, NAFSA partnered with Oxford Test of English and Studyportals to release the Global Enrollment Benchmark Survey for January - March 2025. The survey revealed that the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, marked by drastic governmental actions redefining the United States' engagement with the world, are already impacting international student interest and enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities.
On May 9, the Department of Education announced it is withdrawing the FY2025 application for the Fulbright-Hays program, which provides current and prospective educators with the global perspectives their students need, effectively grinding this 60-year old program to a halt.
