The Trump administration is putting new pressure on U.S. universities over how they authorize internships and other practical training for international students, warning that schools could risk losing their ability to enroll foreign students if they fail to follow federal rules.
A memo issued Aug. 24 by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which operates under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), warned colleges about what federal officials described as a growing number of questionable Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations.
CPT allows international students in F-1 status to take part in off-campus employment, internships or other practical training when the experience is directly connected to their academic program. CPT is permitted only when the training is closely connected to the student’s course of study and is recognized as part of the academic curriculum.
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According to the memo, SEVP has “observed a rise in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorisations that appear to violate regulatory requirements” governing when the benefit can be used.
The warning carries significant consequences for universities. The administration said schools that fail to comply with SEVP requirements could lose their certification to enroll international students.
The new guidance has already prompted some major universities to temporarily stop processing certain CPT requests while they assess what the latest federal direction means for their international student programs.
The University of California, Los Angeles, confirmed that it has paused some CPT authorizations.
“UCLA has paused certain Curricular Practical Training authorisations while it reviews recent federal guidance and determines next steps,” a university spokesperson said.
Berkeley is also reassessing how it handles some CPT requests. Its international office described the August 24 memo as “more narrow in focus, more direct, and includes content that is more restrictive in nature.”
Berkeley said it would extend its pause on certain CPT authorizations “for the foreseeable future.” However, the university said it would continue processing CPT applications tied directly to degree requirements.
It also said it would resume processing CPT requests related to doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis research.
The university’s international office said it plans to consult legal experts as it develops procedures intended to comply with the administration’s latest requirements.
The developments follow another federal memo issued earlier in August, adding to uncertainty for universities that manage employment and practical training programs for large numbers of international students.
According to DHS, the federal rules governing CPT remain the same despite the new warning.
“Nothing about these regulations has changed,” DHS said in a statement. At the same time, the department warned universities and employers that the Trump administration would take a tougher approach toward what it considers misuse of the CPT system.
“Under President Trump, abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated,” the department said.
For international students, the scrutiny could make CPT approvals more complicated as universities reassess which internships and employment opportunities clearly satisfy the curriculum requirement. CPT is particularly important for students seeking practical experience in the U.S. while completing their degrees, making changes in how schools interpret or process applications closely watched by foreign students and their employers.
The latest action also comes as the Trump administration continues to intensify its scrutiny of U.S. universities on several fronts.
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The administration has opened investigations and threatened federal funding over issues ranging from campus protests involving the Israel-Gaza conflict to diversity programs, climate initiatives and transgender policies. Civil rights and academic groups have raised concerns about the potential impact on free speech, academic freedom and due process on college campuses.
The administration’s broader campaign against diversity initiatives has also extended into university admissions.
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice accused the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences of using admissions practices that favored Black and Hispanic applicants. The allegations followed a federal investigation and form part of the administration’s wider push to challenge diversity-related policies in higher education.
The university rejected the findings.
“We are disappointed by the DOJ’s conclusions, which we believe are incorrect,” the university said, maintaining that its admissions practices complied with the law and were not discriminatory.
The Justice Department has made similar allegations against other universities and said it is seeking settlement discussions. The department has warned that it could pursue litigation if those efforts do not result in an agreement.
International students have also faced scrutiny over political activity on U.S. campuses. The Trump administration has revoked the visas of some student protesters involved in demonstrations over the Israel-Gaza conflict, arguing that certain protests crossed into antisemitism or support for extremist groups.
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Pro-Palestinian protesters, including Jewish advocacy groups, have rejected that characterization. They argue that criticizing Israel’s military campaign and occupation of Palestinian territories is not inherently antisemitic and that support for Palestinian rights should not be equated with backing extremist organizations.
Against that backdrop, the new CPT warning adds another layer of federal oversight for universities with international student populations. While the administration says it is enforcing existing rules rather than creating new ones, colleges are now reassessing their CPT procedures to determine whether their practices could expose them to federal action.