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Education Abroad
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Regulatory Information
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This NAFSA page links to select executive actions by the President and administrative actions by federal agencies that relate to international education during the Trump-Vance administration (January 20, 2025 - January 20, 2029).

Quick-links to content organized by topic on this page. Jump to:

Content within each topical grouping is generally arranged in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.ex

General Regulatory

  • Executive Order 14295 of May 9, 2025: Increasing Efficiency at the Office of the Federal Register. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 20367 (May 14, 2025). Directs the Office of the Federal Register to streamline its publication process in support of the Administration’s deregulatory agenda. Citing unnecessary delays and high publication fees as obstacles to efficient rulemaking, the order requires the Archivist of the United States to modernize systems, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and reassess fee structures to better reflect actual publication costs. It mandates two performance reports to the Office of Management and Budget—one within 15 days and another by August 22, 2025—to measure improvements in processing times and cost efficiency.
  • DOS Determines Immigration is an APA Foreign Affairs Function. March 13, 2025. A Federal Register notice set for publication on March 14, 2025, delivers a broad new determination from Secretary of State Marco Rubio declaring that all federal efforts related to border control, immigration, and cross-border transactions by any agency fall under the foreign affairs function exemption of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). See NAFSA's page.
  • Presidential Memorandum: Regulatory Freeze Pending Review. Memo on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8249 (January 28, 2025). See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14148 of January 20, 2025: Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8237 (January 28, 2025). Rescinds numerous Biden administration executive orders.
  • Also see all Presidential Actions published on whitehouse.gov at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/

Government Funding, Staffing, and Operations

Executive Orders and Actions

  • Executive Order 14247 of March 25, 2025: Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 14001 (March 28, 2025). Directs the U.S. Treasury to cease issuing paper checks for all federal disbursements and receipts, including fees, fines, loans, and taxes starting September 30, 2025. Also tells federal agencies to transition to electronic funds transfer (EFT) methods and to eliminate physical lockbox service processing of mail-in checks, to the extent allowed by law. No deadline is set for the agency transition, but states that "As soon as practicable, and to the extent permitted by law, all payments made to the Federal Government shall be processed electronically." Also see the White House Fact Sheet.
  • Executive Order 14242 of March 20, 2025: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: scheduled for publication on March 25, 2025. 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." The Order also directs that programs or activities receiving any remaining Department of Education funds will not advance DEI or gender ideology. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14238 of March 14, 2025: Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 13043 (March 20, 2025). This order "continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary." Section 2 of the order, titled Reducing the Scope of the Federal Bureaucracy, identifies seven governmental entities, including the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, and directs that "the non-statutory components and functions [those] governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law."
  • Executive Order 14222 of February 26, 2025: Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Cost Efficiency Initiative. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 11095 (March 3, 2025). Targets "discretionary spending through Federal contracts, grants, loans, and related instruments," including "non-essential" travel to conferences and other purposes. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14215 of February 18, 2025: Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 10447 (February 24, 2025). This executive order injects the President and the President and the Department of Justice/Attorney General directly into the regulatory and interpretive processes of all agencies. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14211 of February 12, 2025: One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 9831 (February 18, 2025). Declares that "Failure to faithfully implement the President’s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation" of foreign service officers and calls for "Foreign Service Reform" to also include revising or replacing the Department of State's Foreign Affairs Manual. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14210 of February 11, 2025; Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 9669 (February 14, 2025). This order aims to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce and implement new hiring practices through DOGE. See NAFSA's page.
  • Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Advancing United States Interests When Funding Nongovernmental Organizations. February 6, 2025. Memorandum on whitehouse.gov. President Trump announces "the policy of my Administration to stop funding NGOs that undermine the national interest." The two-paragraph memo directs the heads of agencies "to review all funding that agencies provide to NGOs" and to "align future funding decisions with the interests of the United States and with the goals and priorities of my Administration, as expressed in executive actions; as otherwise determined in the judgment of the heads of agencies; and on the basis of applicable authorizing statutes, regulations, and terms."
  • Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2025 - Hiring Freeze. Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8247 (January 28, 2025). A January 20, 2025 Presidential Memorandum freezes the hiring of federal civilian employees across the executive branch. No federal civilian position that was vacant as of noon on January 20, 2025 may be filled, and no new position may be created, unless allowed by this memorandum or other applicable law. The freeze applies to all executive departments and agencies, regardless of funding sources, unless otherwise exempted. Military personnel of the armed forces or positions related to "immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety" are exempted. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14169 of January 20, 2025, Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8619 (January 30, 2025). EO 14169 mandates a 90-day pause on new foreign development assistance obligations and disbursements of funds to "to foreign countries and implementing non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and contractors." It also covers USAID. This pause and potential funding realignment could impact international education programs, research collaborations, and grants that rely on U.S. foreign aid. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14150 of January 20, 2025: America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8337 (January 29, 2025). Directs the Secretary of State to, "as soon as practicable... issue guidance bringing the Department of State's policies, programs, personnel, and operations in line with an America First foreign policy, which puts America and its interests first."

Agency Actions

  • Treasury. Request for Information Related to the Executive Order, “Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account." See 90 FR 23108 (May 30, 2025). Public comments due June 30, 2025. "The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) invites public input to inform its implementation of the President's Executive Order (E.O.) 14247 on “Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account” issued on March 25, 2025, which, among other items, directs the Secretary of the Treasury to cease issuing paper checks and transition to the use of electronic payments for all Federal disbursements where feasible. This request for information (RFI) offers the opportunity for interested individuals and organizations to provide feedback on matters related to Treasury's implementation of E.O. 14247, in particular Treasury's efforts to advance a public awareness campaign that will help consumers, including unbanked and underbanked populations, transition to digital payments as contemplated by the E.O."
  • DOS. DOS Plans Comprehensive Reorganization. In an April 22, 2025 press statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced "a comprehensive reorganization plan" for the Department of State (DOS) that Rubio says will be implemented "methodically over the next several months." See NAFSA's page.
  • DOE. On April 11, 2025 the Department of Energy (DOE) said that it sent a policy memorandum to grant recipients at colleges and universities announcing that it will limit financial support of “indirect costs” of DOE research funding to 15%. See the DOE press release. On April 16, 2025, in a case filed by the AAU, a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts issued a Temporary Restraining Order blocking the policy while litigation continues. See the case docket on CourtListener.
  • DHS. On March 21, 2025 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. See Trump Shuts Down 3 Watchdog Agencies Overseeing Immigration Crackdown, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Hamed Aleaziz, Adam Goldman and Eileen Sullivan, The New York Times, March 21, 2025.
  • ED. On March 11, 2025 the Department of Education announced that it initiated a reduction in force that would impact 50% of the department's workforce. This appears connected to the February 11, 2025 executive order titled Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Workforce Optimization Initiative, which aims to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce and implement new hiring practices.
  • DOS. 15-Day Pause on DOS Grant Disbursements. NAFSA notes that members have reported receiving notifications on February 13, 2025 from the Department of State of a "15-Day Pause on Grant Disbursements in the Payment Management System" that took effect on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The pause applies to all current and future grant payments scheduled during this period. The communications acknowledge that this will impact recipients, ability to carry out program activities and financial planning, but offer no further guidance except that recipients can contact their Grants Officer with questions. See NAFSA's page. Read NAFSA's March 3, 2025 Statement: Suspension of International Education and Exchange Program Funding Threatens U.S. Economic and National Security, and Take Action to Urge Congress to Restore Vital International Education and Exchange Funding!
  • NIH. 15% Cap on Indirect Costs in Grants. In Notice Number NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates (February 7, 2025)], the National Institutes of Health (NIH) imposed a 15% cap on the "indirect cost" rate for all NIH grants. This policy applies to both new and existing grants, effective from the date of issuance. For institutions of higher education, this standardized 15% indirect cost rate may lead to reduced funding for facilities and administrative expenses, potentially impacting operations that support research and other activities. On February 10, 2025 the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts temporarily blocked implementation of the 15% cap. The court set a hearing for February 21, 2025. In the meantime, NIH is blocked from implementing the 15% cap nationwide. See NAFSA's page.
  • OMB. General Funding Freeze Rescinded. A January 27, 2025 memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) required "Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements," and to suspend distribution of this funding while the review is underway. The funding pause was set to go into effect on January 28, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, but was temporarily blocked by litigation. On January 29 The New York Times reported that "On Wednesday, Matthew J. Vaeth, the acting director for the Office of Management and Budget, sent a notification to federal agencies notifying them that memo freezing aid had been 'rescinded.'" See NAFSA's page.
  • DOS. Implementing Executive Order 14169 of January 20, 2025, Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid. January 26, 2025. DOS Secretary Rubio has paused U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and AID. "Consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, Secretary Rubio has paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for review. He is initiating a review of all foreign assistance programs to ensure they are efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda." See the DOS Press Release.

DEI and Gender

See NAFSA's page Executive Actions Under the Trump-Vance Administration Touching on DEI and Gender for further information on these and other DEI and gender-related executive actions.

Executive Orders and Actions

  • Executive Order 14201 of February 5, 2025, Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 9279 (Feburary 11, 2025). This order establishes a federal enforcement framework for making eligibility to participate in women’s sports exclusively based on sex at birth, and purports to align Title IX policies with the order. Institutions receiving federal funding must comply with the order's directives to maintain eligibility for federal support. The order also tells DHS and DOS to review and modify policies regarding the admission of males at birth seeking to compete in women’s sports, including potential visa restrictions.
  • Executive Order 14151 of January 20, 2025: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8339 (January 29, 2025). Directs the termination of all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, policies, and mandates. It requires that federal agencies eliminate DEI-related offices, positions, and initiatives, including environmental justice programs, and prohibits consideration of DEI factors in federal employment practices. Higher education administrators should be aware that this order may impact federal funding, grant eligibility, and hiring policies related to DEI initiatives in federally supported programs.
  • Executive Order 14168 of January 20, 2025: Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8615 (January 30, 2025). Has provisions impacting language and categories on government forms, records, and documents. "The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall implement changes to require that government-issued identification documents, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, accurately reflect the holder’s sex, as defined under section 2 of this order; and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall ensure that applicable personnel records accurately report Federal employees’ sex, as defined by section 2 of this order."

Agency Actions

  • TSA. TSA changes regulations to refer to sex instead of gender. May 21, 2025. A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) final rule effective May 21, 2025 "replaces the term 'gender' with 'sex' wherever it appears in TSA's regulations." The preamble to the rule includes tables identifying where and in what context the changes are being made. This includes TSA's: REAL-ID regulations at 6 CFR Part 37; the general statement on rules of construction to state that "Words importing the masculine sex include the feminine" at 49 CFR Part 1500; information that must be submitted for flight reservations at 49 CFR part 1540; and other sections relating to TSA's Secure Flight program. Read the rule published at 90 FR 21688 (May 21, 2025).
  • DHS. USCIS is Revising Forms to Remove "Gender Marker X" pursuant to Executive Order 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government. AILA has sued USCIS because of the lack of notice and failure to provide a grace period on revised forms. See NAFSA's page.
  • DOS. DOS is Revising Forms to Remove "Gender Marker X" Executive Order 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government. See NAFSA's page.
  • EEOC. In a February 19, 2025 press release 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. See NAFSA's page.
  • ED. Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter Directs Schools to End Racial Preferences. On February 14, 2025, the Department of Education (DoEd) issued a "Dear Colleague Letter" (DCL) that "provides notice of the Department's existing interprettion 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." The DCL, signed by DoEd's Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Craig Trainor, warns that educational institutions "that fail to comply with federal civil rights law may, consistent with applicable law, face potential loss of federal funding." Along with more than 60 associations, NAFSA signed on to a February 24, 2025 letter in response to the DCL sent to DoED by the American Council on Education (ACE) asking DoEd to "rescind this DCL and work to promulgate guidance that reflects existing law." DoEd posted as set of FAQs on the DCL on March 1, 2025, and on March 14, 2025 announced the opening of investigations into 51 universities. See NAFSA's page.

Antisemitism Related

Executive Order and Actions

  • Executive Order 14188 of January 29, 2025: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8847 (February 3, 2025). "This order reaffirms Executive Order 13899 and directs additional measures to advance the policy thereof in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, against the people of Israel." See NAFSA's page.

Agency Actions

  • DOS. DOS Adds New Reporting Requirements to EVP Incident Reporting Rubric. On May 15, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) sent an alert to J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) Sponsors to inform them that DOS has revised its Incident Reporting Rubric for academic program sponsors by adding the following new incident reporting requirements: Proscribed Antisemitic Actions, Serious Violations of University Conduct Rules, and Terrorist Activity, Endorsing or Espousing Terrorism. See NAFSA's page.
  • DHS. DHS Threatens Harvard with Decertification if it Fails to Respond to Data Request. An April 16, 2025 DHS press release mentions the threat of decertification if Harvard doesn’t comply with data requests regarding student protest activity, stating: “The Secretary also wrote a scathing letter demanding detailed records on Harvard’s foreign student visa holders’ illegal and violent activities by April 30, 2025, or face immediate loss of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification… And if Harvard cannot verify it is in full compliance with its reporting requirements, the university will lose the privilege of enrolling foreign students.” See Secretary Noem Terminates $2.7 Million in DHS Grants; Orders Harvard to Prove Compliance with Foreign Student Requirements, DHS press release, April 16, 2025.
  • DHS. DHS to Begin Screening Social Media Activity for Antisemitism. April 09, 2025. A DHS news release says that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) "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." See NAFSA's page.
  • DHS. ICE-Initiated SEVIS Record Terminations. April 2, 2025. NAFSA has received numerous reports of SEVIS record terminations done by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). See NAFSA's page for some background and frameworks for understanding these actions.
  • DHS. March 2025. Removal proceedings initiated against numerous individuals. See NAFSA's page.
  • DOJ. On February 28, 2025, 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." See NAFSA's page.
  • DOJ. In a February 3, 2025 press release, the Department of Justice announced the formation of "a multi-agency Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism," pursuant to Executive Order 14188 of January 29, 2025, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism. According to the press release, the "Task Force's first priority will be to root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses... In addition to the Department of Justice, the Task Force will include representatives from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies as it develops. The Task Force will be coordinated through the Department's Civil Rights Division."

American Ideology Actions

Executive Orders and Actions

  • Executive Order 14224 of March 1, 2025: Designating English as the Official Language of The United States. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 11363 (March 6, 2025).  This executive order designates English as the official language of the United States and revokes Biden's Executive Order 13166 of August 11, 2000 (Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency). The new executive order states, though, that "nothing in this order, however, requires or directs any change in the services provided by any agency. Agency heads should make decisions as they deem necessary to fulfill their respective agencies’ mission and efficiently provide Government services to the American people. Agency heads are not required to amend, remove, or otherwise stop production of documents, products, or other services prepared or offered in languages other than English."
  • Executive Order 14160 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8449 (January 29, 2025). Sometimes referred to as the "birthright citizenship" order. This executive order tells federal agencies to not recognize birthright citizenship of any individual born after 30 days from when the executive order was signed: "(1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or (2) when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth." Currently enjoined by nationwide preliminary injunctions, but on March 14, 2025 the Trump-Vance administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to partially stay the injunctions. See NAFSA's page.

Travel Bans and Restrictions

See NAFSA's Travel Bans and Restrictions page for further information on these topics.

Executive Orders and Actions

  • Proclamation Orders Travel Bans on 19 Countries. June 4, 2025. Presidential Proclamation 10949 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.
  • Executive Order 14161 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8451 (January 30, 2025). Sometimes referred to as the "extreme vetting" order. Directs federal agencies to enhance immigration screening and vetting procedures to prevent the entry of individuals who may pose a terrorist, national security, or public safety threat to the United States. The order restores prior vetting standards from the Trump administration and requires a comprehensive review of visa and immigration policies to ensure stringent security measures. Key provisions include identifying high-risk countries for potential entry restrictions, strengthening refugee screening, and evaluating visa programs for potential security vulnerabilities. Additionally, the order mandates stricter oversight of foreign nationals already in the U.S. and calls for measures to promote immigrant assimilation into American society. See NAFSA's page.

Agency Actions

  • DOS. State Department Announces Plans to Revoke South Sudanese Visas. April 5, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
  • DOS. DOS Policy Targets Current and Former Thai Government Responsible Forced Return of Uyghurs from Thailand to China. March 14, 2025. On March 14, 2025 Secretary Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions to be imposed "on current and former officials from the Government of Thailand responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand on February 27." Rubio cites cites INA 212(a)(3)(C)/8 USC 1182(a)(3)(C), which authorizes the Secretary of State to exclude an individual "whose entry or proposed activities in the United States the Secretary... has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States." See Announcement of a Visa Restriction Policy to Address the Forced Return of Uyghurs and Members of Other Ethnic or Religious Groups with Protection Concerns to China, Press Statement Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, March 14, 2025.
  • DOS. DOS Policy Targets Foreign Officials and Others Facilitating Illegal Migration into the United States. On March 5, 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced "a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign government officials, including immigration and customs officials, airport and port authority officials, and others believed to be responsible for knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the United States, including through failure to enforce immigration laws or establishing and implementing policies and practices that knowingly facilitate the transit of aliens intending to illegally immigrate into the United States via the U.S. southwest border." See Announcement of a Visa Restriction Policy Targeting Foreign Officials and Others Facilitating Illegal Migration into the United States, press statement, March 5, 2025. The statement cites INA 212(a)(3)(C)/8 USC 1182(a)(3)(C), which authorizes the Secretary of State to exclude an individual "whose entry or proposed activities in the United States the Secretary... has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States."
  • DOS. Visa Issuance in Colombia Resumes. January 31, 2025. NAFSA's liaison partners at DOS have informed NAFSA that nonimmigrant visa issuance in Colombia has now resumed. Press reports confirm. On January 26, 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suspended visa issuance at the U.S. Embassy Bogota consular section, following Colombian President Petro's refusal to accept two repatriation flights unless the deported individuals were treated with the “dignity that a human being deserves." See NAFSA's page.

Vetting and Enforcement

Executive Orders and Actions

  • Proclamation 10948 of June 4, 2025, Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University. Proclamation published on whitehouse.gov | Proclamation published in the Federal Register at 90 FR 24493 (June 10, 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." Implementation of the proclamation is currently blocked by a temporary restraining order issued on June 5, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14287 of April 28, 2025: Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens. Published in the Federal Register at 90 FR 18761 (May 2, 2025). Sections 2 through 5 of Executive Order 14287 set forth a coordinated federal strategy to identify and penalize so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions” - States and localities that, in the view of the federal government, obstruct immigration law enforcement. Within 30 days of the order, the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security must publish a list of these jurisdictions and continue to update it. Identified jurisdictions will be formally notified of their defiance and potential legal violations. If they do not change course, federal agencies are directed to identify federal funds, such as grants and contracts, that may be suspended or terminated, consistent with legal authority. The Attorney General and DHS are also directed to pursue legal remedies against jurisdictions that continue to defy federal immigration law. In addition, the order targets access to federal benefits and perceived preferential treatment for noncitizens in sanctuary jurisdictions. DHS and the Attorney General must create mechanisms to ensure strict eligibility verification for public benefits provided within sanctuary jurisdictions. The Attorney General is also instructed to identify and halt any State or local laws or practices that unlawfully favor noncitizens over American citizens, including those related to in-state tuition or differential treatment in criminal proceedings, where such practices conflict with federal statutes like 8 U.S.C. 1623, Limitation on eligibility for preferential treatment of aliens not lawfully present on basis of residence for higher education benefits.
  • Executive Order 14282 of April 23, 2025: Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities. Published in the Federal Register at 90 FR 17541 (April 28, 2025). This executive order directs the Secretary of Education to robustly enforce the requirements of 20 USC 1120f (regarding "disclosures of foreign gifts") "including by working with the Attorney General and the heads of other executive departments, agencies, and offices, where appropriate, to require complete and timely disclosure by higher education institutions of foreign funding." The order also calls for audits and investigations "as appropriate and where necessary," and directs that failure to comply with "applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements" will lead to withholding Federal grant funds.
  • Presidential Memorandum of April 15, 2025: Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits. This presidential memorandum directs the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services, along with the Social Security Commissioner, to implement measures preventing unauthorized immigrants from receiving Social Security Act benefits. The memorandum orders the expansion of fraud prosecutor programs to at least 50 U.S. Attorney Offices by October 2025, with emphasis on prosecuting identity theft and beneficiary-side fraud, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations. It also mandates implementation of program integrity measures including addressing missing death information in SSA files and investigating suspicious earnings reports for individuals over 100 years old. Read the memorandum on the whitehouse.gov website.
  • Presidential Proclamation of March 15, 2025: Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua. In a March 15, 2025 proclamation President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan criminal organization that has also been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The proclamation is currently enjoined by a temporary restraining order issued the same day as the proclamation. See NAFSA's page.
  • Legislation. President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on January 29, 2025. The law requires DHS to detain certain non-U.S. nationals who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting, and authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14165 of January 20, 2025: Securing Our Borders. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8647 (January 30, 2025). Directs a comprehensive effort to secure the U.S. southern border by increasing physical barriers, deploying additional personnel, and expanding detention and removal operations. It reinstates the Migrant Protection Protocols, restricts the use of categorical parole, and prioritizes the prosecution of immigration-related offenses. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14159 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The American People Against Invasion. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8443 (January 29, 2025). Among other things, directs the DHS Secretary to "ensure that the primary mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations division is the enforcement of the provisions of the INA and other Federal laws related to the illegal entry and unlawful presence of aliens in the United States and the enforcement of the purposes of this order." Note that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is housed within HSI.
  • Executive Order 14161 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8451 (January 30, 2025). Sometimes referred to as the "extreme vetting" order. Directs federal agencies to enhance immigration screening and vetting procedures to prevent the entry of individuals who may pose a terrorist, national security, or public safety threat to the United States. The order restores prior vetting standards from the Trump administration and requires a comprehensive review of visa and immigration policies to ensure stringent security measures. Key provisions include identifying high-risk countries for potential entry restrictions, strengthening refugee screening, and evaluating visa programs for potential security vulnerabilities. Additionally, the order mandates stricter oversight of foreign nationals already in the U.S. and calls for measures to promote immigrant assimilation into American society. See NAFSA's page on this executive order.
  • Presidential Proclamation 10888 of January 20, 2025: Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion. Proclamation on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8333 (January 29, 2025). Declares that an ongoing "invasion" is occurring at the U.S. southern border and invokes executive authority under the Constitution and immigration law to suspend the entry of migrants crossing the border illegally. The proclamation directs the Department of Homeland Security to implement broad restrictions on entry, including denying asylum claims and removing individuals without processing under standard immigration procedures.
  • Executive Order 14157 of January 20, 2025: Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8439 (January 29, 2025).
  • Executive Order 14167 of January 20, 2025: Clarifying The Military’s Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8613 (January 30, 2025).
  • Presidential Proclamation 10886 of January 20, 2025: Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States. Proclamation on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8327 (January 29, 2025).
  • Immigration-related comments in President Trump's January 20, 2025 inaugural address. Extracted by NAFSA from the transcript on whitehouse.gov.

Agency Actions

  • DOS. DOS Ends Pause on Adding New F, M, J Visa Appointment Capacity Upon Issuing Guidance on Expansion of Social Media Screening. On June 18, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) instructed consulates worldwide to implement a mandatory expansion of social media vetting for all F, M, and J visa applicants (students and exchange visitors), requiring applicants to make all social media accounts public while consular officers conduct thorough reviews of their entire online presence using search engines and databases to identify "potentially derogatory information" including political activism, terrorism support, anti-Semitic activities, or "hostile attitudes" toward the United States. F, M, and J visa applications will undergo a two-step process involving standard eligibility review followed by enhanced vetting under INA 221(g) administrative processing. The June 18, 2025 DOS cable that delivered the guidance told consulates that they had five business days from the date of the cable to implement the new protocols, after which they could begin opening up new visa appointments (which had been halted since May 27, 2025). The fifth business day following June 18 would be June 26, 2025 (not counting the day the cable was issued and taking into account the intervening weekend and the federal holiday of Juneteenth on June 19). Although visa appointment scheduling is resuming, processing capacity may be reduced due to the resource-intensive nature of the expanded screening requirements. This may translate into longer appointment wait and visa processing times. See NAFSA's page for details and additional context.
  • DHS. List of Sanctuary Jurisdictions Defying Federal Immigration Law. May 30, 2025. DHS published an online list of "states and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws (sanctuary jurisdictions)," pursuant to Executive Order 14287 of April 28, 2025: Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens. See DHS's Sanctuary Jurisdictions Defying Federal Immigration Law page.
  • DHS/SEVP. SEVIS Release 6.82.2 to Revise SEVIS "Disciplinary Action" Page. According to the SEVIS Release 6.82.2 Planning Guide (May 21, 2025), SEVIS Release 6.82.2, scheduled for implementation on May 30, 2025, will revise the "Disciplinary Action" page in F-1/M-1 SEVIS RTI in ways that may impact how DSOs report disciplinary action. See NAFSA's page.
  • DOS. 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.
  • DOS. New FAM Provision Focuses on F-1 "Sole Pursuit of Study" Requirement. On April 29, 2025 the Department of State updated its Foreign Affairs Manual at 9 FAM 402.5, Students and Exchange Visitors – F, M, and J Visas to add an explanatory section on the requirement that an F-1 student have the intent to solely pursue a full course of study. The entire section is unavailable to the public, however. See NAFSA's page.
  • DHS-SEVP. SEVP Sends Notices to OPT Students Without Employer Information in SEVIS. May 16, 2025. NAFSA members reported that certain F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) received a letter from SEVP titled “Student and Exchange Visitor Program: Notice of Failure to Report Optional Practical Training Employer and Exceeding Permissible Period of Unemployment," advising the students that they’ve “been participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) for more than 90 days but have not reported any employer information,” and that “If your SEVIS record is not updated within 15 days of the date of this notice, SEVP will set your SEVIS record to “terminated” to reflect the lack of employer information and the potential that you may have violated your status either by failing to timely report OPT employment or by exceeding the permissible period of unemployment while on OPT.” Read more on NAFSA's page.
  • DHS. ICE-Initiated SEVIS Record Terminations. April 2, 2025. NAFSA has received numerous reports of SEVIS record terminations done by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). See NAFSA's page for some background and frameworks for understanding these actions.
  • DHS. End of parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. On March 25, 2025 DHS published a notice in the Federal Register terminating categorical parole for up to 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. On April 14, 2025 a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of portions of the Federal Register notice. See NAFSA's page.
  • DHS. Mass Influx of Aliens Finding. March 21, 2025. On January 23, 2025, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman signed a "Finding of Mass Influx of Aliens," two days before Kristi Noem was sworn in as DHS Secretary. The finding activates enhanced federal authority and resources and presses for state and local cooperation. The finding was effective on the date of signing and for 60 days thereafter (until March 23, 2025). The first extension of the finding, now made by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2025. That finding lasts for 180 days from March 25, 2025. See NAFSA's page for links.
  • Plans to collect social media identifiers on USCIS forms. March 5, 2025. USCIS published a notice in the Federal Register at 90 FR 11324 (March 5, 2025) titled Generic Clearance for the Collection of Social Media Identifier(s) on Immigration Forms. The notice states: "This collection of information is necessary to comply with section 2 of the Executive order (E.O.) entitled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats”, which directs implementation of uniform vetting standards and requires the collection of all information necessary for a rigorous vetting and screening of all grounds of inadmissibility or bases for the denial of immigration-related benefits. In a review of information collected for admission and benefit decisions, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) identified the need to collect social media identifiers (“handles”) and associated social media platform names from applicants to enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections." USCIS will accept comments for 60 days, until May 5, 2025.
  • DHS-USCIS. New Immigration Registration Requirements: Key Points. March 12, 2025. New USCIS guidance requires children 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. This may affect, for example, F-2, J-2, H-4 dependents and young F-1/J-1 students who entered before age 14. Most nonimmigrants who entered the U.S. at age 14+ are already automatically registered (as evidenced by their Form I-94) and DON'T need to re-register. This is also a good time to remind noncitizens to carry their registration document and timely report address changes. A USCIS interim final rule published at 90 FR 11793 (March 12, 2025), Alien Registration Form and Evidence of Registration, effective April 11, 2025 designates a new "Form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration) to implement the registration and fingerprinting process. Visit NAFSA's page for more details.
  • DHS-USCIS. USCIS Changes Policy on Issuing NTAs After Adverse Adjudications. February 28, 2025. USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0187, Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens (February 28, 2025). "USCIS will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement, which includes referring cases to ICE and issuance of NTAs... Typically, USCIS will issue an NTA after taking adverse action on a benefit request (i.e., denying an application)." An NTA (Form I-862) is a charging document that, among other things, begins deportation proceedings before an Immigration Judge.
  • DHS. DHS expands scope of expedited removal. January 24, 2025. A DHS Federal Register notice published at 90 FR 8139 (January 24, 2025) rescinds the Biden administration's March 21, 2022 expedited removal policy and restores the scope of expedited removal to the fullest extent authorized by the INA. See NAFSA's page.
  • DHS. DHS Rescinds Biden "Protected Areas" Enforcement Policy. January 21, 2025. 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. See NAFSA's page.
  • DHS-CBP. CBP narrows functionality of its CBP One app. January 20, 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on its CBP One page that: "Effective January 20, 2025, the functionalities of CBP One™ that previously allowed undocumented aliens to submit advance information and schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry is no longer available, and existing appointments have been cancelled." This will particularly impact asylum seekers who were permitted to use the tool to schedule appointments under the Biden administration.

Immigration Benefits

Executive Orders and Actions

  • Trump "Gold Card." According to Reuters and other news sources, on February 25, 2025 President Trump announced plans to replace the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program with a so-called "gold card" program in which lawful permanent residence could be purchased for $5 million. The EB-5 program, which grants green cards (lawful permanent residence) to foreign investors who create or preserve U.S. jobs, has been criticized by the administration as fraudulent and underpriced. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the new initiative, dubbed the "Trump gold card," would replace the EB-5 program entirely. Trump noted that the card would offer green card privileges and attract wealthy individuals. When asked by a journalist if that might possibly include Russian oligarchs, Trump reportedly said, "Yeah, possibly. Hey. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people."  Additional details about the proposal are expected in two weeks. See Holland, S., & Singh, K. (2025, February 25). Trump floats $5 million 'gold card' as a route to US citizenship. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-end-eb-5-immigrant-investor-visa-program-2025-02-25/

Agency Actions

  • 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.
  • SSA. Report of Temporary Hold on Processing SSNs Through I-765. A news outlet reported in March, 2025 that an unpublished Social Security Administration (SSA) memo informed SSA offices that it "is temporarily pausing the Enumeration-Beyond-Entry (EBE) process for noncitizens granted work authorization (I-765)." The EBE program, described in the SSA Program Operations Manual System (POMS) at RM 10205.700, is an agreement between SSA and USCIS in effect since 2017 that allows certain individuals to apply for work authorization and a social security number (SSN) at the same time by answering related questions on Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. No further information is available since the March 20, 2025 Popular Information article, including whether the temporary pause is still active. See NAFSA's page for background.
  • DOS. Visa Interview Wait Time Once Again Available on DOS Web Page. Average visa interview wait time information is once again available on the Department of State's Global Visa Wait Times page on travel.state.gov. The page was finally updated with new data on April 25, 2025 after having been dormant since January 7, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
  • DOS. DOS Revises Visa Interview Waiver Policy. 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. This marks a shift from the previous policy, which allowed interview waivers for applicants whose prior visa had expired within the past 48 months. See NAFSA's page.
  • DHS-USCIS. USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status Applicants. Effective January 22, 2025, USCIS will waive any requirements that applicants for adjustment of status to permanent residence present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.

Background information

Executive actions, also called presidential actions, are taken by the President of the United States, usually through the following vehicles:

  • Executive Orders
  • Presidential Proclamations
  • Presidential Memoranda
  • Signing legislation into law after it is passed by Congress

Agency regulatory actions include:

  • Proposed regulations
  • Final regulations
  • Agency policy documents and statements

Federal agencies are part of the Executive Branch of government and exercise authority delegated by Congress to the head of the agency. Four Cabinet-level executive agencies share most responsibility for administering immigration laws (Departments of Homeland Security, State, Justice, and Labor). The Department of Education also has an impact on international education, particularly regarding funding for education abroad for U.S. students and Title IX protections.

Also see:

Related Content

Current U.S. Administration Practical Immigration Concepts in a Time of Change Priorities for the Trump-Vance Administration Resources on Initiatives Under the Second Trump Administration