News•Mar 19, 2026
Trump Is Threatening International Students, and a New Bill Could Help Stop Him
A bipartisan pair of California representatives introduced legislation to codify the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which lets international students work in the U.S. for up to 12 months, with extensions for STEM graduates. The Trump administration has signaled intent to dismantle OPT, threatening a pipeline that saw 165,524 foreign students in STEM OPT in 2024. OPT, created in 1992, bridges F‑1 student visas and H‑1B work visas and has historically expanded under previous presidents. Lawmakers argue that ending the program would erode U.S. competitiveness in high‑tech sectors.