A coalition of unions and advocacy groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to block a Trump administration rule limiting the duration of visas for foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists.
The rule, set to take effect on September 15, imposes a four-year cap on F visas for international students and J visas for cultural exchange participants, while I visas for journalists are limited to 240 days, or 90 days for Chinese nationals. Previously, these visas were granted for the duration of a program or employment, with journalist visas often valid for years.
The lawsuit argues the changes will harm universities, deter international students and disrupt the U.S. economy. Jon Schleuss, president of NewsGuild-CWA, which represents journalists including those at Reuters, called the rule an attack on press freedom. The complaint warns the policy will discourage foreign students and scholars from pursuing opportunities in the United States, citing the risk of losing legal immigration status mid-program.
The Department of Homeland Security, named as the defendant, dismissed the lawsuit as performative. A spokesperson stated that media concerns over international students should focus on addressing fraud, asserting that the rule targets abuse without providing evidence to support the claim.
The plaintiffs include unions and advocacy groups representing educators, journalists and immigrant communities, who argue the rule will reduce the U.S.'s economic contributions from international education, a sector valued at billions of dollars annually.
