The Trump administration has issued a stern directive to universities, signaling a crackdown on how international students access Curricular Practical Training (CPT). According to a memo from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), federal officials have noted an increase in what they describe as misuse of internship authorizations, emphasizing that these opportunities must be strictly tied to an established academic curriculum. Schools have been warned that failing to adhere to these tighter interpretations of federal regulations could result in the loss of their certification to enroll foreign students, a threat that has prompted immediate concern across higher education.

In response, several major institutions, including UCLA and UC Berkeley, have preemptively paused certain CPT applications to review their compliance and seek legal guidance. While the Department of Homeland Security maintains that the core regulations remain unchanged, they have made it clear that the current administration expects stricter oversight of these work programs. This move is part of a broader trend of increased federal scrutiny on universities under the Trump administration, which has already targeted various campus programs, diversity initiatives, and student protests, sparking intense debate regarding academic freedom and the future of international education in the U.S.